Incumbent takes on former former city and state legislator in 9th District Senate primary

Barbara Anne Washington and Brandon Ellington are well known Democrats among their constituency. Both have served as state representatives, and in the case of Ellington, a city councilman.  The state senate’s Ninth District covers Kansas City’s east side, including Hickman Mills and Raytown.

Barbara Anne Washington

Barbara Anne Washington is the incumbent member of the Missouri Senate from 9th District running for re-election, hailing from the east side of Kansas City. She attended Southwest High School. After graduation, she attended the Missouri School of Journalism in Columbia earning a Bachelor of Journalism degree in News-Editorial. She then went on to receive a Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare Administration from Avila University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. 

Aside from being a practicing attorney and before being sworn in as state senator in 2021, she served as the 23rd district state representative for three years, 2018-2021.

Triumphs during Washington’s tenure as the state senator include involvement in securing $1 million in funding for the Community Assistance Council (CAC), consistently providing meals and resources to the entire community in the 9th District, hosting forums to provide legislative information on gun violence and teen crime prevention and extending support to the police foundation.

If re-elected, Washington plans on continuing to push for legislation that reduces and prevents violence by implementing local programming that engages the youth, aid the CAC, support developers who want to help with affordable housing and will stay in open communication with the people of the 9th District to hear what they need so she can use her voice to advocate for the community.

When Washington was asked why she chose to switch from being a member of the Missouri House of Representatives, for three years, to the State Senate she stated that it was a better opportunity because there are only 34 senators compared to the 163 state representatives.

“I can be a stronger voice for my community,” Washington said. 

At the forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, Washington opined on various hot topics. She believes that keeping the Chiefs and Royals is a “great boon” to our economy, but “before we as a state entity can decide we’re just going to write a check [or not], we need to make sure the voters of Jackson County are highly benefited with the Great Community Benefits agreement.” She is against eliminating property taxes because property taxes in Missouri are the prime revenue source for public education. She said, “with the elimination of property taxes, in order to keep things going the way they do in our state, we’re going to have to find another source. So, for me personally, I don’t approve of any elimination of our property taxes. She is also against allowing the legislature to increase minimum funding for the police force. 

Brandon Ellington

Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Ellington attended Paseo High School. After graduating high school in 1999, he pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, but says his “real education” comes from real world engagement.

Before his bid for state senate, Ellington served as a member of the Missouri House of Representatives from 2012-2019 for the 22nd District — covering parts of Jackson County and Independence. During his tenure, he was elected as the vice chair then chair of the Legislative Black Caucus and also served as the House Minority Whip right before his departure from the House of Representatives. Following his stint as a state representative, he became a 3rd District at Large Council-member.

Triumphs during Ellington’s time as a public servant include advocating for the underprivileged and disenfranchised communities, working on projects related to economic development in east-side neighborhoods, improving transparency on boards and commissions and establishing the Office of Citizen Engagement. 

Ellington did not respond to requests for comment.

Also at the forum hosted by the League of Women Voters, Ellington offered insight on various hot topics. He said that doesn’t see a big enough net benefit to “just bend over” in working to keep the Chief and the Royals in Missouri. “I believe Jackson County and Kansas City should put more skin in the game if they want to keep the Chiefs in Kansas City, as opposed to the states just opening up the pocketbooks,” he said. His answer as to whether or not to eliminate property taxes is unclear. He believes Kansas City should “not be as committed to old forms of taxation that have proven to not produce high quality [public education] . . . I believe that there are several ways we can work together, as a state.” He also does not support allowing the legislature to increase minimum funding for the police force.