KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Wyandotte County District Attorney Mark Dupree won a second term on Tuesday, defeating challenger Kristiane Bryant in a tight primary race.
Dupree won the Democratic primary with 54.5% of the vote, while Bryant, a prosecutor, received 45.5%.
Ahead of the primary election, Dupree, the county’s first Black district attorney, faced criticism related to public safety, with some arguing his lack of experience during his first term in office led to increases in plea deals and dismissals of cases.
A former assistant district attorney also accused Dupree of removing all prosecutors with trial experience, except for one, after he took over the office.
Dupree called the claims politically motivated and told the 41 Action News Investigative Team that his assistant district attorneys were “experienced” lawyers who “do the job well.”
During his campaign, Dupree highlighted his role in implementing implicit bias training at the district attorney’s office, creating the Conviction Integrity Unit and working to improve police relations with communities of color. He said the most important issues in the election were transparency and “getting rid of corruption.”
Dupree practiced law with his wife at their firm, Dupree and Dupree LLC, until he was sworn into office in 2017. He also previously served as an assistant prosecuting attorney in Jackson County and an assistant public defender in the Johnson County Public Defender’s Office.
No Republican filed to run in the race, so Dupree’s next term will begin in January.
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