Melesa Johnson makes history as Jackson County, Missouri’s first Black woman prosecutor.

At her watch party on Nov. 5, Johnson shared that she hopes her victory will inspire young Black girls.

Melesa Johnson, a 35-year-old Democrat, defeated Republican Tracey Chappell, also a Black woman, to make history as the first Black woman prosecutor in Jackson County, Kansas City, MO.

The race, as reported by KCUR, centered on crime in the largely Democratic county. Johnson secured a strong victory by emphasizing aggressive prosecution and crime prevention.

Johnson succeeds Jean Peters Baker, the incumbent who held the position since 2011 and chose not to run for another term. Johnson began her career as a young attorney in Baker’s office.

Johnson will step down from her role as Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas’ director of public safety to take on the position she was elected to.

At her watch party on Nov. 5, Johnson expressed that she hopes her victory will inspire young Black girls. She won the election with 57% of the vote, compared to Chappell’s 43%.

“Today, we proved that a little Black girl from the east side of Kansas City can rise to become one of the top law enforcement officials in the county — that means something,” Johnson said. “This will inspire people from my community to pursue careers as police officers, prosecutors, sheriffs, probation officers, and more. That’s a positive shift for the entire system.”

She added, “If you’ve ever felt unseen by a justice system meant to serve you, I’m honored to be your beacon of hope. I don’t take that responsibility lightly.”

The race centered on crime, driven by a surge of property crimes committed by armed teens, primarily targeting cars and businesses in wealthy, mostly white neighborhoods.

Public outrage over violent crimes in Kansas City reached its peak after two teenagers, aged 15 and 17, fatally shot popular Irish chef Shaun Brady near his restaurant.

The teens have been charged with second-degree murder and could face trial as adults.

In response to the crime, Johnson emphasized the importance of prosecuting such offenses and supporting Kansas City’s anti-violence initiative, SAVE KC.

“We will fight to reduce violence and improve safety, all while preserving our humanity,” Johnson stated.

Johnson added, “We will strengthen support for survivors and empower our communities by addressing the root causes of crime, all while holding people strictly accountable. At the same time, we aim to break the cycles of incarceration that disrupt families and ensure that children can safely grow up in their neighborhoods.”

SAVE KC focuses on street-level intelligence to gather information about individuals most likely to commit crimes.

On the other hand, Chappell, advocating for a tough-on-crime stance, argued that social justice initiatives should follow the prosecution of violent crimes.

In addition to crime, abortion became a key issue in the race. Following the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade, Missouri, like many other conservative-led states, enacted a total abortion ban in 2022.

“From the top of the ticket to the bottom, women’s reproductive freedoms and rights have been a central issue throughout this election cycle,” Johnson said.

According to The Kansas City Star, Johnson assured her supporters that she would lead with integrity, stressing during her campaign that the long-standing issues in Jackson County couldn’t be solved through incarceration alone.

Instead, Johnson suggested expanding prosecution in areas like non-violent drug distribution cases, while also aiming to create a new property crimes division and revitalize the conviction integrity unit, which investigates potential wrongful convictions from the past.

Johnson recognized the tough road ahead but expressed confidence that collaboration would help the county overcome its challenges.

“We have a big task ahead, but with genuine collaboration and partnership, we can and will rise to the occasion,” Johnson said.

She added, “The challenges have been significant, but your determination has been even greater. I am deeply grateful for your service, and I know I have big shoes to fill.”