Jackson County Executive Frank White secured re-election in the midterms with the support of labor.

  Union endorsed candidates in the Kansas City-area essentially ran the table during the  November 8th midterm election. Democrat Jamie Johnson flipped Missouri State Representative District 12. State Reps. Ashley Aune and Maggie Nurrenbern secured reelection in the 14th and 15th, respectively. Rep. Robert Sauls won reelection in the 21st District and Aaron Crossley won reelection in the 29th. The 34th District is currently pending a recount, but Kemp Strickler appears to have won by roughly 37 votes. Keri Ingle comfortably beat Burrows to win the 35th District. All of whom brought the Missouri Democrats closer to breaking supermajority control in the State House. None of which would have been possible without the efforts of union members who knocked on thousands of doors for these candidates.

  “In my election, the support I received from labor cannot be understated. I am specifically grateful for UAW 249, IAFF Local 42, Teamsters, and LiUNA. Shirley Mata (UAW) was an incredible help in organizing people to help with lit drops, allowing me to target canvass neighborhoods much more effectively. From the beginning, Matt Dowd (IAFF) believed in me and my campaign and worked to develop a strong partnership. He advocated for funding and appeared in a campaign mailer to help! Pat Jones-Macklin (AFT) was a strong advocate as was Roy Nixon (Teamsters). Being a first-time candidate can be overwhelming, but having the support of folks who have worked in campaigns before was key to my success. I would not have won this election without the support and work that these and other organizations throughout the state offered,” said Jamie Johnson.

Jamie Johnson will be the next State Representative from Missouri House District 12.

  “The support from Labor meant everything in my race from early endorsements and contributions to helping us ensure that we knocked on as many doors as possible. As a fourth generation union member, I will always stand with my brothers and sisters, and it is gratifying to know that they have my back, too,” said Rep. Nurrenbern.

  Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly and Congresswoman Sharice Davids were both bright spots for unions in Kansas, holding off their opponents to guarantee Kansas has common sense governance. Rep. Davids won by an even larger margin than in 2020, despite Republicans gerrymandering her district to be more conservative.

  Most of the top races in Missouri didn’t go the way unions wanted, but Congressman Emanuel Cleaver was able to handily win his race without breaking much of a sweat.

  Every union endorsed race in the Jackson County Legislature was won. County Executive Frank White won reelection, largely thanks to the support of unions who rallied to keep the union-ally in power. Manny Abarca and Charlie Franklin secured their wins in District 1 and 3, respectively. Jalen Anderson, Donna Peyton, and Megan Marshall all won for unions in Districts 1, 2, and 3 At-Large.

  Voters in Missouri approved a constitutional amendment that could force Kansas City to spend up to 25% of its budget on the police department, but simultaneously endorsed an amendment that legalized recreational marijuana.

  In a devastating blow to the finances of Clay County, voters approved a measure that will eliminate over a million dollars in tax revenue.

Independence, MO Races

  Reps. Robbie Sauls and Aaron Crossley were both able to secure wins in their districts around and in Independence, Missouri in races that gained a surprising amount of interest due to the population of union members in the area. KCUR’s Savannah Hawley even did a special report and interview focusing on the pivotal element that union members would play in the race.

  “Independence is a union town. I can’t tell you how many folks would answer their door, saying, ‘Oh! You’re the union guy. I’m already voting for you.’ Without the countless volunteer hours from union members going door-to-door, I believe my race could have been much closer,” said soon-to-be State Rep. Aaron Crossley.

  “I was successful in my re-election with the help of many union members. The UAW, IBEW, teamsters, firefighters, and many more joined me in knocking doors to ensure a victory in the 21st district,” said Rep. Robbie Sauls, a labor lawyer and strong union supporter. “I had union members from various trades help me knock on doors in my district. Many spent time knocking doors for me in both the heat and the cold and I am very grateful for everything they did.”