Newcomer ousts incumbent state representative in Jackson County Democratic primary

Newcomer Anthony Ealy defeated first-term incumbent Annette Turnbaugh in Tuesday’s Democratic primary for a Missouri House district covering southwest Jackson County including Grandview.

Ealy will face Republican Kurt Lauvstad in the general election in November for the 36th District.

The Associated Press called the race at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday. With 96.5% of votes counted, Ealy led the primary with 61.1% of the votes compared to Turnbaugh’s 35.2%. John Boyd trailed with 3.6%.

Ealy is a lawyer with what he describes on his campaign website as “working-class roots” as the son of a mail union leader. He has campaigned for a “pro-union economy” as well as criminal justice reform and investments in infrastructure, education and agriculture.

The district was redrawn as part of this year’s redistricting.

Turnbaugh, a Grandview native, was first elected to the Missouri House in 2020 in the old District 37.

Natalie Wallington

The Kansas City Star

Natalie Wallington was a reporter on The Star’s service journalism team with a focus on policy, labor, sustainability and local utilities from fall 2021 until early 2025. Her coverage of the region’s recycling system won a 2024 Feature Writing award from the Kansas Press Association.