In three-way race, Melesa Johnson wins Democratic primary for Jackson County prosecutor
Melesa Johnson clinched the Democratic primary for Jackson County prosecutor and will face the Republican contender in the November election.
Johnson garnered about 48% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Kansas City Board of Election Commissioners and the Jackson County Election Board.
She faced Stephanie Burton and John Gromowsky in the Aug. 6 primary. They each won about 26% of the votes.
Johnson thanked voters in Jackson County as the race was called.
“Thank you for believing in change. Thank you for believing that we can do better,” she said. “I am so excited ... Thank you for understanding that it’s time for change. Thank you for understanding that we need a holistic approach. Thank you for understanding that we can’t incarcerate our way out of these issues.”
The three candidates competed to replace longtime Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker, who is not seeking reelection. Johnson will face Republican Tracey Chappell in the general election on Nov. 5.
Johnson is Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ director of public safety and supports a practice called transformative justice.
Lucas said he was proud of Johnson’s victory.
“No one will work harder to bring law enforcement, neighborhood leaders, and our community together to fight violent crime. I look forward to working hard to support her, all Democratic nominees, and all those supporting reproductive health as we head into November,” Lucas said in a statement.
Burton is a defense attorney who has worked with the Midwest Innocence Project and the Death Penalty Litigation Clinic.
Gromowsky was a defense attorney in between two stints with the prosecutor’s office, where he currently serves in the violent crimes unit.
The candidates shared their views on various issues including crime and the death penalty at several debates in the run up to the primary.
Johnson will inherit an office that has focused on prosecuting violent crime cases amid an alarming gun violence rate and rebuilding its relationship with the Kansas City Police Department.
This story was originally published August 6, 2024 at 9:24 PM.
