Editing Barton County, Missouri (section)

==Politics==
{{more citations needed section|date=April 2023}}
{{update section|date=April 2023}}

===Local===
[[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] control politics at the local level in Barton County, holding all of the elected positions in the county.

{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Barton County, Missouri
| assessor          =Richard A. Johnson
| assessorparty     =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Melinda Maberry
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Nikki Brand
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| presiding         =David Johnson
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Ben Reed
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Jeff Tucker
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Brittanica Born
| collectorparty    =Republican
| coroner           =Jenny Mcmanis
| coronerparty      =Republican
| prosecutor        =Mike Smalley
| prosecutorparty   =Republican 
| administrator     =Julie Hagen
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Lisa Cunningham
| recorderparty     =Republican
| sheriff           =John Simpson
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor          =
| surveyorparty     =
| treasurer         =Brittanica Born
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}

===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"|'''85.87%''' ''5,055''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|12.33% ''726''
|align="center" |1.80% ''106''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''84.78%''' ''5,114''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|13.53% ''816''
|align="center" |1.69% ''102''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''77.18%''' ''4,553''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|20.39% ''1,203''
|align="center" |2.42% ''143''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''63.78%''' ''3,644''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|33.26% ''1,900''
|align="center" |2.96% ''169''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''62.17%''' ''3,661''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|35.47% ''2,089''
|align="center" |2.36% ''139''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''79.43%''' ''4,743''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|19.49% ''1,164''
|align="center" |1.07% ''64''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''70.15%''' ''3,764''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|28.61% ''1,535''
|align="center" |1.25% ''67''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''57.60%''' ''2,911''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|39.77% ''2,010''
|align="center" |2.63% ''133''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1992|1992]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''64.77%''' ''3,330''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|35.23% ''1,811''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|}

All of Barton County is a part of Missouri's 127th Legislative District in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]] and is represented by Ann Kelley (R-[[Lamar, Missouri|Lamar]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 127 — Barton County (2020)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Ann Kelley'''
  |votes      = '''5,514'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+17.60'''
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 127 — Barton County (2018)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Ann Kelley'''
  |votes      = '''4,086'''
  |percentage = '''82.40%'''
  |change     = '''-4.86'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Teri Hanna
  |votes      = 873
  |percentage = 17.60%
  |change     = +4.85
  }}
{{Election box end}}

All of Barton County is a part of Missouri's 31st Senatorial District in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is represented by Rick Brattin (R-[[Harrisonville, Missouri|Harrisonville]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 31 — Barton County (2020)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Rick Brattin'''
  |votes      = '''5,067'''
  |percentage = '''85.85%'''
  |change     = '''+6.59'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Raymond Kinney
  |votes      = 835
  |percentage = 14.15%
  |change     = +14.15
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 31 — Barton County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Ed Emery'''
  |votes      = '''4,581'''
  |percentage = '''79.26%'''
  |change     = '''+5.72'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Tim Wells
  |votes      = 773
  |percentage = 13.37%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Lora Young
  |votes      = 426
  |percentage = 7.37%
  |change     = +7.37
  }}
{{Election box end}}

===Federal===
All of Barton County is included in [[MO-04|Missouri's 4th Congressional District]] and is represented by [[Vicky Hartzler]] (R-[[Harrisonville, Missouri|Harrisonville]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. Hartzler was elected to a sixth term in [[2020 United States House of Representatives elections|2020]] over Democratic challenger Lindsey Simmons.
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Barton County (2020)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Vicky Hartzler'''
  |votes      = '''5,053'''
  |percentage = '''85.07%'''
  |change     = '''+0.80'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Lindsey Simmons
  |votes      = 758
  |percentage = 12.76%
  |change     = -0.70
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steven K. Koonse
  |votes      = 129
  |percentage = 2.17%
  |change     = -0.10
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 4th Congressional District — Barton County (2018)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Vicky J. Hartzler'''
  |votes      = '''4,196'''
  |percentage = '''84.27%'''
  |change     = '''+0.36'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Renee Hoagenson
  |votes      = 670
  |percentage = 13.46%
  |change     = +0.56
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States) 
  |candidate  = Mark Bliss
  |votes      = 113
  |percentage = 2.27%
  |change     = -0.92
}}
{{Election box end}}

Barton County, along with the rest of the state of Missouri, is represented in the [[U.S. Senate]] by [[Josh Hawley]] (R-[[Columbia, Missouri|Columbia]]) and [[Eric Schmitt]].
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate – Class I – Barton County (2018)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Josh Hawley'''
  |votes      = '''4,064'''
  |percentage = '''80.94%'''
  |change     = '''+18.63'''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Claire McCaskill
  |votes      = 783
  |percentage = 15.60%
  |change     = -16.02
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Craig O'Dear
  |votes      = 97
  |percentage = 1.93%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Japheth Campbell
  |votes      = 48
  |percentage = 0.96%
  |change     = -5.11
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jo Crain
  |votes      = 29
  |percentage = 0.58%
  |change     = +0.58
}}
{{Election box end}}

Blunt was elected to a second term in [[2016 United States Senate elections|2016]] over then-Missouri Secretary of State [[Jason Kander]].
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Class III — Barton County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''4,479'''
  |percentage = '''75.77%'''
  |change     = '''+13.46'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 1,231
  |percentage = 20.83%
  |change     = -10.79
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 93
  |percentage = 1.57%
  |change     = -4.50
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 47
  |percentage = 0.80%
  |change     = +0.80
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 61
  |percentage = 1.03%
  |change     = +1.03
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====
{{PresHead|place=Barton 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 24, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,159|820|36|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,168|844|65|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,959|795|185|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,418|1,230|98|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,414|1,455|79|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,572|1,373|46|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,836|1,424|106|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,812|1,625|608|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,775|1,433|986|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,339|1,603|16|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,996|1,348|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,337|1,901|160|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,708|2,326|43|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,026|1,140|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,928|1,832|499|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,332|3,173|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,703|2,417|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,547|2,881|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,056|2,661|24|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,577|3,008|7|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,356|2,688|23|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,737|3,539|39|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,164|4,048|37|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,092|3,897|115|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,662|2,275|48|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,952|2,682|441|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,480|3,040|294|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,597|2,217|202|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,010|1,791|1,000|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,673|1,913|272|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,843|1,811|341|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,780|2,349|197|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,496|2,824|91|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|1,335|1,620|1,034|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|1,543|1,883|528|Missouri}}
{{clear}}

At the presidential level, Barton County is overwhelmingly Republican. Barton County strongly favored [[Donald Trump]] in both [[2016 United States presidential election|2016]] and [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]]. A Democrat hasn't carried the county in a presidential election since [[Lyndon Johnson]] in [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]]. Like most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Barton County generally adhere to socially and culturally [[Conservatism|conservative]] principles which tend to influence their Republican leanings.

===Missouri presidential preference primaries===

====2020====
The 2020 presidential primaries for both the Democratic and Republican parties were held in Missouri on March 10. On the Democratic side, former [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Joe Biden]] (D-[[Delaware]]) both won statewide and carried Barton County by a wide margin. Biden went on to defeat [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] in the general election.
{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Barton County (2020)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Joe Biden'''
  |votes      = '''241'''
  |percentage = '''57.25'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bernie Sanders
  |votes      = 146
  |percentage = 34.68
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Tulsi Gabbard
  |votes      = 7
  |percentage = 1.66
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Others/Uncommitted
  |votes      = 27
  |percentage = 6.41
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}

Incumbent [[President of the United States|President]] [[Donald Trump]] (R-[[Florida]]) faced a primary challenge from former [[Governor of Massachusetts|Massachusetts Governor]] [[Bill Weld]], but won both Barton County and statewide by overwhelming margins.
{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Barton County (2020)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Donald Trump'''
  |votes      = '''1,286'''
  |percentage = '''98.54'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bill Weld
  |votes      = 3
  |percentage = 0.23
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Others/Uncommitted
  |votes      = 16
  |percentage = 1.23
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====2016====
The 2016 presidential primaries for both the Republican and Democratic parties were held in Missouri on March 15. Businessman [[Donald Trump]] (R-[[New York (state)|New York]]) narrowly won the state overall, but [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Ted Cruz]] (R-[[Texas]]) carried a majority of the vote in Barton County. Trump went on to win the nomination and the presidency.
{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Barton County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Ted Cruz'''
  |votes      = '''1,560'''
  |percentage = '''53.94'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Donald Trump
  |votes      = 986
  |percentage = 34.09
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John Kasich
  |votes      = 170
  |percentage = 5.88
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Marco Rubio
  |votes      = 102
  |percentage = 3.53
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Others/Uncommitted
  |votes      = 74
  |percentage = 2.56
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}

On the Democratic side, former [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] [[Hillary Clinton]] (D-[[New York (state)|New York]]) won statewide by a small margin, but [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Bernie Sanders]] (I-[[Vermont]]) narrowly won Barton County.
{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Barton County (2016)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Bernie Sanders'''
  |votes      = '''214'''
  |percentage = '''50.24'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Hillary Clinton
  |votes      = 205
  |percentage = 48.12
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Others/Uncommitted
  |votes      = 7
  |percentage = 1.64
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====2012====
The 2012 Missouri Republican Presidential Primary's results were nonbinding on the state's national convention delegates. Voters in Barton County supported former [[U.S. Senator]] [[Rick Santorum]] (R-[[Pennsylvania]]), who finished first in the state at large, but eventually lost the nomination to former [[Governor of Massachusetts|Governor]] [[Mitt Romney]] (R-[[Massachusetts]]). Delegates to the congressional district and state conventions were chosen at a county caucus, which selected a delegation favoring Santorum. Incumbent [[President of the United States|President]] [[Barack Obama]] easily won the Missouri Democratic Primary and renomination. He defeated Romney in the general election.

====2008====
In 2008, the Missouri Republican Presidential Primary was closely contested, with [[United States Senator|Senator]] [[John McCain]] (R-[[Arizona]]) prevailing and eventually winning the nomination. However, former [[Governor of Arkansas|Arkansas Governor]] [[Mike Huckabee]] won a clear majority among Barton County Republicans, receiving more votes than any other candidate in either major party.
{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Republican Presidential Primary – Barton County (2008)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Huckabee'''
  |votes      = '''1,188'''
  |percentage = '''55.72'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = John McCain
  |votes      = 525
  |percentage = 24.62
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Mitt Romney
  |votes      = 344
  |percentage = 16.14
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Ron Paul
  |votes      = 45
  |percentage = 2.11
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Others/Uncommitted
  |votes      = 30
  |percentage = 1.32
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}

Then-[[United States Senator|Senator]] [[Hillary Clinton]] (D-[[New York (state)|New York]]) carried Barton County in the 2008 Democratic presidential primary. Despite initial reports that Clinton had won Missouri, [[Barack Obama]] (D-[[Illinois]]), also a [[United States Senator|Senator]] at the time, narrowly defeated her statewide and later became that year's Democratic nominee, going on to win the presidency.
{{Election box begin | title=Missouri Democratic Presidential Primary – Barton County (2008)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Hillary Clinton'''
  |votes      = '''614'''
  |percentage = '''63.43'''
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Barack Obama
  |votes      = 318
  |percentage = 32.85
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Others/Uncommitted
  |votes      = 36
  |percentage = 3.72
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box end}}