Editing Pemiscot County, Missouri (section)

===Federal===
Pemiscot County is included in [[MO-08|Missouri's 8th Congressional District]] and is currently represented by [[Jason T. Smith]] (R-[[Salem, Missouri|Salem]]) in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]]. Smith won a special election on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, to finish out the remaining term of [[U.S. Representative]] [[Jo Ann Emerson]] (R-[[Cape Girardeau, Missouri|Cape Girardeau]]). Emerson announced her resignation a month after being reelected with over 70 percent of the vote in the district. She resigned to become CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative.
{{PresHead|place=Pemiscot 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|3,917|1,331|30|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|4,120|1,560|55|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,964|1,947|132|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,598|2,671|66|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,954|3,029|64|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,398|3,381|27|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|2,750|3,245|65|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,820|3,371|486|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,161|3,924|683|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,066|3,288|10|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,733|3,293|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,519|4,140|73|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,541|4,681|14|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,697|2,017|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,191|2,681|2,950|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,658|5,083|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|4,464|7,312|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,969|8,064|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|4,118|8,913|12|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,249|10,269|8|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|4,333|7,380|20|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|6,011|9,391|51|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,139|8,171|14|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,415|7,909|32|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,256|5,259|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|4,811|5,616|146|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,443|3,901|109|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,076|2,447|98|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|973|1,617|574|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,390|1,725|49|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|923|1,375|45|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|655|1,370|7|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|355|1,260|3|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|133|700|12|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|168|599|1|Missouri}}
{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Pemiscot County (2020)<ref name="US House results">{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - United States - Missouri - MO - District 08 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/ContainerDetail.html?ContainerID=513 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''3,953'''
  |percentage = '''71.83%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kathy Ellis
  |votes      = 1,488
  |percentage = 27.04%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Tom Schmitz
  |votes      = 62
  |percentage = 1.13%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Pemiscot County (2018)<ref name="US House results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''2,985'''
  |percentage = '''66.70%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Kathy Ellis
  |votes      = 1,455
  |percentage = 32.51%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Shell
  |votes      = 35
  |percentage = 0.78%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Pemiscot County (2016)<ref name="2016 results">{{cite web |title=Pemiscot County 2016 Results |url=http://www.pemiscotcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2016GENERALELECTION.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220320013144/http://www.pemiscotcounty.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2016GENERALELECTION.pdf |archive-date=March 20, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''3,638'''
  |percentage = '''63.90%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dave Cowell
  |votes      = 1,945
  |percentage = 34.16%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Shell
  |votes      = 108
  |percentage = 1.90%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Pemiscot County (2014)<ref name="2014 results">{{cite web |title=Election Results for November 4, 2014 |url=http://www.pemiscotcounty.org/election-results-for-november-4-2014/ |website=Pemiscot County}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''1,695'''
  |percentage = '''57.67%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Barbara Stocker
  |votes      = 1,013
  |percentage = 34.47%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 43
  |percentage = 1.46%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 47
  |percentage = 1.60%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Terry Hampton
  |votes      = 140
  |percentage = 4.76%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 - Special Election – Pemiscot County (2013)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''506'''
  |percentage = '''58.36%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steve Hodges
  |votes      = 338
  |percentage = 38.99%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 13
  |percentage = 1.50%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bill Slantz
  |votes      = 10
  |percentage = 1.15%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=U.S. House of Representatives - District 8 – Pemiscot County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jo Ann Emerson'''
  |votes      = '''3,782'''
  |percentage = '''62.57%'''
  |change     = -0.25 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jack Rushin
  |votes      = 2,184
  |percentage = 36.14%
  |change     = +0.95 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 78
  |percentage = 1.29%
  |change     = +0.51
}}
{{Election box end}}

Pemiscot 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 [[Roy Blunt]] (R-[[Strafford, Missouri|Strafford]]).
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate – Class I – Pemiscot County (2018)<ref name="2018 senate">{{cite web |title=Our Campaigns - MO US Senate Race - Nov 06, 2018 |url=https://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=784886 |website=www.ourcampaigns.com}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Josh Hawley'''
  |votes      = '''2,968'''
  |percentage = '''65.49%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Claire McCaskill
  |votes      = 1,458
  |percentage = 32.17%
  |change     = 
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Japheth Campbell
  |votes      = 38
  |percentage = 0.84%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Craig O'Dear
  |votes      = 41
  |percentage = 0.90%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jo Crain
  |votes      = 27
  |percentage = 0.60%
  |change     = 
}}
{{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 - Pemiscot County (2016)<ref name="2016 results" />}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''3,476'''
  |percentage = '''59.36%'''
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 2,203
  |percentage = 37.62%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 89
  |percentage = 1.52%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 57
  |percentage = 0.97%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 29
  |percentage = 0.50%
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====

At the presidential level, Pemiscot County, lying in the [[Missouri Bootheel]] (one of the regions in Missouri most associated with the [[Southern United States|American South]]), was powerfully Democratic from shortly after the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] through 2000. From 1868 through 2000, it voted Republican only in Harding's, Hoover's, Nixon's, and Reagan's national landslides in 1920, 1928, 1972, and 1984, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|title=County winners, 1836-2016|url=https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZmDRzvm83BYurKX7LsrET-C7tcIsE5Em42Wt-gTydXk/edit?usp=embed_facebook|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=Google Docs|language=en-US}}</ref> In 1968, it was the only county in Missouri to vote for George Wallace.

In 2004, George W. Bush flipped the county from blue to red, albeit narrowly, and since then, the county has solidified its standing as a Republican bastion. As of 2020, the county has voted Republican five times in a row, with the Republican vote share increasing in every election. In 2008, Pemiscot County swung the most Republican of all the counties in the state, as McCain improved on Bush's vote share by fully 6.2%, already besting not only Bush but every Republican to have carried the county in at least the prior hundred years apart from Nixon in 1972. In 2020, Donald Trump posted the best showing for a Republican in the county in at least over a century, with his nearly 72% exceeding Nixon's 70%.<ref>{{Cite web|last1=campaigns|first1=Steven ShepardSenior|last2=A.m|first2=Elections Editor12:52|title=Live election results: 2020 Missouri results|url=https://www.politico.com/2020-election/results/missouri/|access-date=January 16, 2021|website=www.politico.com|language=en}}</ref> Similarly to other highly rural Southern counties in the 21st century, the Democratic raw vote total has decreased in every election since then as well.

As in most rural areas throughout Missouri, voters in Pemiscot County generally adhere to socially and culturally [[Conservatism|conservative]] principles, but are more moderate or [[Populism|populist]] on economic issues, typical of the [[Dixiecrat]] philosophy. In 2004, Missourians voted on [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2004)|a constitutional amendment to define marriage as the union between a man and a woman]]—it passed Pemiscot County with 84.73 percent of the vote. The initiative passed the state with 71 percent of support from voters, as Missouri became the first state to ban [[same-sex marriage]]. In 2006, Missourians voted on [[Missouri Constitutional Amendment 2 (2006)|a constitutional amendment to fund and legalize embryonic stem cell research in the state]]—it failed in Pemiscot County, with 52.41 percent voting against the measure. The initiative narrowly passed the state with 51 percent of support from voters, as Missouri became one of the first states in the nation to approve [[Embryonic stem cell|embryonic stem cell research]]. Despite Pemiscot County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing [[Populism|populist]] causes, such as increasing the [[minimum wage]]. In 2006, Missourians voted on a proposition (Proposition B) to increase the minimum wage in the state to $6.50 an hour—it passed Pemiscot County with 78.01 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 78.99 percent voting in favor as the minimum wage was increased to $6.50 an hour in the state. During the same election, voters in five other states strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.