Editing Ray County, Missouri (section)

==Law, government and politics==

=== Government ===
On January 1, 2025, the Ray County Jail was closed after newly elected [[Sheriffs in the United States|Sheriff]] Gary Blackwell, due to "safety and security concerns."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2025-01-02 |title=Sheriff closes Ray County, Missouri jail due to deteriorating conditions |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/sheriff-closes-ray-county-missouri-jail-due-to-deteriorating-conditions/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Godding |first=Chloe |date=2025-01-02 |title=Ray County Jail closes due to unsafe conditions, sheriff says |url=https://www.kmbc.com/article/ray-county-jail-closes-due-to-unsafe-conditions-sheriff-says/63323245 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=KMBC |language=en}}</ref> Inmates where sent to facilities in neighboring [[Harrison County, Missouri|Harrison]] and [[Lafayette County, Missouri|Lafayette]] counties, as well as the Daviess-Dekalb Regional Jail.<ref name=":0" />

=== Politics ===
{{unreferenced section|date=April 2023}}
{{update|section|date=April 2023}}

==== Local ====
Politics at the local level in Ray County are now evenly divided between Republicans and Democrats, with Republicans making major gains in the past four election cycles, going from no representation before 2011 to now holding half of the county offices.
{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Ray County, Missouri
| assessor          =Kent Wollard
| assessorparty     =Democratic
| circuitclerk      = Carolyne Conner
| circuitclerkparty =Democratic
| countyclerk       =Glenda Powell
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding          =Gary Wilhite
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Allen Dale
| district1party    =Democratic
| district2         =Jerry Bishop
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Julie Chowning
| collectorparty    =Democratic
| coroner             =Bart Willem
| coronerparty    =Republican
| prosecutor        =Camille Johnston
| prosecutorparty   =Republican
| administrator     =Shannon Wollard
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Shirley O’Dell
| recorderparty     =Democratic
| sheriff           =Gary Blackwell
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor         =Thomas Sisco
| surveyorparty    =Democratic
| treasurer         =Melissa Holloway
| treasurerparty    =Independent
}}

==== State ====
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Past Gubernatorial Elections Results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
! [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
! [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
! [[Third Party (United States)|Third Parties]]
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2024 Missouri gubernatorial election|2024]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''72.05%''' ''8,256''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|25.67% ''2,942''
|align="center" |2.28% ''261''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[2020 Missouri gubernatorial election|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''68.93%''' ''7,964''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|28.38% ''3,279''
|align="center" |2.68% ''310''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''52.51%''' ''5,686''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|43.58% ''4,719''
|align="center" |3.91% ''423''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|41.26% ''4,252''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''55.53%''' ''5,722''
|align="center" |3.21% ''331''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff "|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|35.73% ''3,899''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''61.13%''' ''6,670''
|align="center" |3.14% ''343''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3 "|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|47.08% ''5,073''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.33%''' ''5,531''
|align="center" |1.59% ''172''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|41.75% ''4,045''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''55.81%''' ''5,407''
|align="center" |2.44% ''237''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|28.31% ''2,475''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''69.26%''' ''6,055''
|align="center" |2.43% ''212''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1992|1992]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|37.6% ''3,578''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''62.4%''' ''5,937''
|align="center" |N/A
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1988|1988]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''56.26%''' ''4,859''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|43.01% ''3,714''
|align="center" |0.73% ''63''
|}
The northwest corner of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 8th District in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]] and is currently represented by Jim Neely (R-[[Cameron, Missouri|Cameron]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Ray County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''James W. (Jim) Neely'''
  |votes      = '''1,294'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+32.60'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Ray County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''James W. (Jim) Neely'''
  |votes      = '''548'''
  |percentage = '''67.40%'''
  |change     = '''+12.22'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Ted Rights
  |votes      = 265
  |percentage = 32.60%
  |change     = -12.22
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 8 — Ray County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''James W. (Jim) Neely'''
  |votes      = '''788'''
  |percentage = '''55.18%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = James T. (Jim) Crenshaw
  |votes      = 640
  |percentage = 44.82%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

Most of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 39th District in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]] and is currently represented by Joe Don McGaugh (R-[[Carrollton, Missouri|Carrollton]]). 
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Ray County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Joe Don McGaugh'''
  |votes      = '''7,741'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Ray County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Joe Don McGaugh'''
  |votes      = '''4,583'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+50.64'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 39 — Ray County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Joe Don McGaugh'''
  |votes      = '''4,176'''
  |percentage = '''49.36%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Will Talbert
  |votes      = 4,285
  |percentage = 50.64%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

All of Ray County is a part of Missouri's 21st District in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is currently represented by Denny Hoskins (R-[[Warrensburg, Missouri|Warrensburg]]). 
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 21 — Ray County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Denny Hoskins'''
  |votes      = '''6,408'''
  |percentage = '''61.80%'''
  |change     = '''+4.37'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = ElGene Ver Dught
  |votes      = 3,346
  |percentage = 32.27%
  |change     = -4.99
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bill Wayne
  |votes      = 615
  |percentage = 5.93%
  |change     = +0.62
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 21 — Ray County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''David Pearce'''
  |votes      = '''5,679'''
  |percentage = '''57.43%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = ElGene Ver Dught
  |votes      = 3,684
  |percentage = 37.26%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steven Hedrick
  |votes      = 525
  |percentage = 5.31%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

==== Federal ====
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Ray County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''5,415'''
  |percentage = '''50.10%'''
  |change     = '''+11.60'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 4,725
  |percentage = 43.71%
  |change     = -9.16
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 390
  |percentage = 3.61%
  |change     = -5.02
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 119
  |percentage = 1.10%
  |change     = +1.10
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 159
  |percentage = 1.47%
  |change     = +1.47
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Ray County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 3,960
  |percentage = 38.50%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''5,439'''
  |percentage = '''52.87%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 888
  |percentage = 8.63%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}
All of Ray County is included in [[MO-05|Missouri's 5th Congressional District]], which is currently represented by [[Emanuel Cleaver]] (D-[[Kansas City, Missouri|Kansas City]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives]].
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Ray County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Emanuel Cleaver'''
  |votes      = '''4,394'''
  |percentage = '''41.10%'''
  |change     = '''+1.71'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jacob Turk
  |votes      = 5,895
  |percentage = 55.14%
  |change     = -0.42
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Roy Welborn
  |votes      = 402
  |percentage = 3.76%
  |change     = -1.29
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 5th Congressional District — Ray County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Emanuel Cleaver'''
  |votes      = '''2,506'''
  |percentage = '''39.39%'''
  |change     = '''-7.66'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jacob Turk
  |votes      = 3,535
  |percentage = 55.56%
  |change     = +6.16
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Roy Welborn
  |votes      = 321
  |percentage = 5.05%
  |change     = +1.50
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri’s 5th Congressional District — Ray County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Emanuel Cleaver'''
  |votes      = '''4,778'''
  |percentage = '''47.05%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jacob Turk
  |votes      = 5,017
  |percentage = 49.40%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Randy Langkraehr
  |votes      = 361
  |percentage = 3.55
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

{{PresHead|place=Ray County, Missouri|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,602|2,927|170|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,345|3,109|221|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,104|3,090|751|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,815|4,275|277|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,593|5,241|219|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,673|5,034|81|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|4,517|4,970|260|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,884|4,714|1,189|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,563|4,457|2,600|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,763|4,879|20|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,875|3,979|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|4,064|4,518|289|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,853|5,535|73|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,205|2,844|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|2,587|3,541|1,078|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,734|5,189|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,542|4,565|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,041|4,636|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|3,349|4,869|22|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,102|4,826|9|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|3,094|4,521|12|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|3,399|5,786|16|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,805|6,300|19|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,706|6,088|52|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|3,280|4,570|16|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,753|4,989|299|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|3,228|4,865|72|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,718|3,380|65|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,192|3,042|696|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,914|3,043|115|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,792|2,744|75|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|2,004|3,631|87|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|2,003|3,945|66|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,643|3,250|196|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|1,796|3,181|130|Missouri}}