Jackson County, Missouri

4th District County Legislator

2 candidates are tracked for 4th District County Legislator on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Byron Townsend and Lon McDonald. Candidate information follows official Jackson County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

August 4 primary result: Byron Townsend (73.9 percent) won the Democratic nomination over John T. Maloney (26.1 percent) and advances to the November 3 ballot, per yahoo.com reporting of the official results (re-verify against the certified canvass). Appears only on 4th District ballots.

What this office does

County commissioner. The county board is the county's legislative and, in most states, executive body. Commissioners adopt the county budget and property tax rate, oversee roads, the jail, public health, planning and zoning in unincorporated areas, and appoint or confirm department heads. In counties with an elected county executive or judge, the board's role is mainly the budget and ordinances.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot.

Missouri › Jackson County › 4th District County Legislator

Byron Townsend

Democratic

Top priorities

Wants a simple, easy-to-understand formula for calculating property tax bills
Supports expanded public transportation and affordable housing initiatives
Opposes ICE detention centers in the county

Per The Beacon: Kansas City questionnaire.

Biography

Byron Townsend is a candidate for Jackson County Legislature, 4th District, per his campaign site. He is a retired letter carrier after a 30-year postal career serving south Kansas City neighborhoods, per his campaign site. He was elected to the Hickman Mills C-1 School Board at-large seat in 2020 and re-elected in 2023, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Lon McDonald

Republican

Top priorities

Wants fair, transparent property tax assessments
Supports protections for seniors and public safety funding
Calls for fiscal reform and transparency in county government

Per the campaign site.

Biography

A district board member and Jackson County councilman to the University of Missouri Extension, per the Martin City Telegraph.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballot5th District County Legislator

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for 4th District County Legislator in 2026?

When is the 4th District County Legislator election in Missouri?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Missouri are on the Missouri election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Jackson County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Jackson County and state election office filings, last verified October 2, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Missouri election office, or see the full Jackson County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Jackson County ballot

29 tracked races in Jackson County, Missouri. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

6th District County Legislator Missouri House District 19 Missouri House District 20 See all 29 Jackson County races

Candidate profiles

Byron Townsend, full profile Lon McDonald, full profile Official Missouri election office