KANSAS CITY – Jackson County voters voted overwhelmingly to remove County Executive Frank White Jr. from office, ending his nine years in power with a landslide recall election.
White, a Kansas City Royals legend who became county executive in 2016, struggled to gain even 20% of the vote.
With nearly all precincts reporting, the final tally showed an 85–15 split in favor of his removal.
Frank White issued this statement:
“Tonight, I acknowledge the results of the recall election and respect the decision of the voters of Jackson County. I want to thank the people who showed up to vote, and I want to thank my staff, my family, my friends, and especially my wonderful wife Teresa. I would not have made it this far without her support, patience, and motivation. Serving as County Executive has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together to strengthen our community. While questions remain about the process that led to this election, I will move forward guided by gratitude for all this community has given me and by the drive to do what is right. As I move forward, that gratitude and the determination to do what is right will continue to guide me.”
The margins were even more striking outside Kansas City, where White lost nearly three-quarters of the vote.
In Jackson County's suburbs and rural communities, nine out of 10 voters supported the recall.
Some precincts posted 95% “yes” votes, and in places like Fort Osage, Buckner, Oak Grove and Lone Jack, support for removal neared 98%.
Independence delivered the largest share of ballots outside Kansas City, with margins generally in the mid-80s to low-90s.
Blue Springs, Lee’s Summit, Raytown, Grain Valley and Grandview all voted strongly in favor of recall.
The recall followed months of organizing, with supporters gathering more than 43,000 verified signatures to place the measure on the ballot.
White’s fall can be traced back to controversies that began during the 2019 property assessment processand intensified after the troubled 2023 assessments, when tens of thousands of property owners appealed their assessments.
A judge later ruled the county made mistakes, and the State Tax Commission ordered a partial rollback.
Small business owners also reported sharp increases in the most recent cycle in 2025.
Beyond assessments, White drew criticism from legislators for negotiations with the Chiefs and Royals regarding keeping both teams in Jackson County.
White first assumed the executive’s office in 2016 on an interim basis before winning the election later that year.