Editing Oregon County, Missouri (section)

==Politics==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2014}}
{{update|section|date=July 2021}}

===Local===
{{Missouri county elected officials
| name              =Oregon County, Missouri
| assessor          =Doug Bridges
| assessorparty     =Republican
| circuitclerk      =Betty Grooms
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Tracy Bridges
| countyclerkparty  =Democratic
| presiding         =David Stubblefield
| presidingparty    =Republican
| district1         =Jason Kemper
| district1party    =Republican
| district2         =Terry Cline
| district2party    =Republican
| collector         =Misty Hower
| collectorparty    =Democratic
| coroner           =Tom Clary
| coronerparty      =Democratic
| prosecutor        =Justin Kelley
| prosecutorparty   =Republican
| administrator     =Becky Granger
| administratorparty=Republican
| recorder          =Dawn Holman
| recorderparty     =Democratic
| sheriff           =Eric King
| sheriffparty      =Republican
| surveyor          =Scott Simer
| surveyorparty     =Democratic
| treasurer         =Linda Parrott
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}
Political control at the county level is currently divided between the Democratic and Republican parties.
{{clear}}

===State===
All of Oregon County is a part of the 143rd District in the [[Missouri House of Representatives]] and is currently represented by Jeffrey Pogue (R-[[Salem, Missouri|Salem]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 143 — Oregon County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS>{{cite web|title= County Results - State of Missouri - 2016 General Election - November 8, 2016 - Official Results|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State| url=http://enr.sos.mo.gov/CountyResults.aspx|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=May 2, 2017}}</ref>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jeffrey Pogue'''
  |votes      = '''3,801'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 143 — Oregon County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jeffrey Pogue'''
  |votes      = '''1,948'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     = '''+35.32%'''
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri House of Representatives — District 143 — Oregon County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jeffrey Pogue'''
  |votes      = '''2,767'''
  |percentage = '''64.68%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Shane Van Steenis
  |votes      = 1,511
  |percentage = 35.32%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

All of Oregon County is a part of Missouri's 33rd District in the [[Missouri Senate]] and is currently represented by [http://www.senate.mo.gov/mem33/ Mike Cunningham] (R-[[Rogersville, Missouri|Rogersville]]).
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 33 — Oregon County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Cunningham'''
  |votes      = '''3,833'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate — District 33 — Oregon County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Mike Cunningham'''
  |votes      = '''3,428'''
  |percentage = '''100.00%'''
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box end}}

{| 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"|'''82.19%''' ''3,715''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|15.82% ''715''
|align="center" |1.99% ''90''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2020|2020]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''80.42%''' ''3,770''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|17.92% ''840''
|align="center" |1.66% ''78''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2016|2016]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''66.82%''' ''3,081''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|30.04% ''1,385''
|align="center" |3.14% ''145''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2012|2012]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''50.01%''' ''2,200''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|46.85% ''2,061''
|align="center" |3.14% ''138''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2008|2008]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|38.07% ''1,742''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''59.22%''' ''2,710''
|align="center" |2.71% ''124''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2004|2004]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''55.76%''' ''2,579''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|42.16% ''1,950''
|align="center" |2.08% ''96''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 2000|2000]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|45.82% ''1,938''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''51.70%''' ''2,187''
|align="center" |2.48% ''105''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1996|1996]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|38.02% ''1,466''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''59.23%''' ''2,284''
|align="center" |2.75% ''106''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1992|1992]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|39.27% ''1,635''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''60.73%''' ''2,529''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1988|1988]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''53.00%''' ''1,978''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|46.60% ''1,739''
|align="center" |0.40% ''15''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1984|1984]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|'''52.93%''' ''2,087''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|47.07% ''1,856''
|align="center" |0.00% ''0''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1980|1980]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|40.12% ''1,542''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''59.82%''' ''2,299''
|align="center" |0.05% ''2''
|-
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|[[Missouri gubernatorial election, 1976|1976]]
|align="center" bgcolor="#fff3f3"|37.19% ''1,350''
|align="center" bgcolor="#f0f0ff"|'''62.73%''' ''2,277''
|align="center" |0.08% ''3''
|}

===Federal===
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Oregon County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Roy Blunt'''
  |votes      = '''3,031'''
  |percentage = '''65.45%'''
  |change     = '''+17.88'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jason Kander
  |votes      = 1,385
  |percentage = 29.91%
  |change     = -16.59
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 105
  |percentage = 2.27%
  |change     = -3.66
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Johnathan McFarland
  |votes      = 53
  |percentage = 1.14%
  |change     = +1.14
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Fred Ryman
  |votes      = 57
  |percentage = 1.23%
  |change     = +1.23
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. Senate — Missouri — Oregon County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Todd Akin
  |votes      = 2,095
  |percentage = 47.57%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Claire McCaskill'''
  |votes      = '''2,048'''
  |percentage = '''46.50%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Dine
  |votes      = 261
  |percentage = 5.93%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

Oregon 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.
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Oregon County (2016)<ref name=MOSOS/>}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''3,447'''
  |percentage = '''77.50%'''
  |change     = '''+17.05'''
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Dave Cowell
  |votes      = 876
  |percentage = 19.69%
  |change     = -4.52
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jonathan Shell
  |votes      = 125
  |percentage = 2.81%
  |change     = +1.15
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Oregon County (2014)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jason T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''1,458'''
  |percentage = '''60.45%'''
  |change     = '''+1.40'''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Barbara Stocker
  |votes      = 584
  |percentage = 24.21%
  |change     = -6.35
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 76
  |percentage = 3.15%
  |change     = -6.11
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 40
  |percentage = 1.66%
  |change     = +0.53
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Independent (politician)
  |candidate  = Terry Hampton
  |votes      = 254
  |percentage = 10.53%
  |change     = +10.53
  }}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Oregon County (Special Election 2013)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''James T. Smith'''
  |votes      = '''574'''
  |percentage = '''59.05%'''
  |change     = '''-11.37'''
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Steve Hodges
  |votes      = 297
  |percentage = 30.56%
  |change     = +5.19
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Constitution Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Doug Enyart
  |votes      = 90
  |percentage = 9.26%
  |change     = +9.26
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Bill Slantz
  |votes      = 11
  |percentage = 1.13%
  |change     = -3.08
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin|title=U.S. House of Representatives — Missouri's 8th Congressional District — Oregon County (2012)}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Republican Party (United States)
  |candidate  = '''Jo Ann Emerson'''
  |votes      = '''3,061'''
  |percentage = '''70.42%'''
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Democratic Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Jack Rushin
  |votes      = 1,103
  |percentage = 25.37%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Libertarian Party (United States)
  |candidate  = Rick Vandeven
  |votes      = 183
  |percentage = 4.21%
  |change     =
  }}
{{Election box end}}

====Political culture====
{{PresHead|place=Oregon 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|3,884|696|33|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,847|823|69|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,671|865|132|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,886|1,419|116|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,652|1,811|128|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|2,769|1,823|81|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,521|1,568|144|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,502|1,795|544|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,402|2,258|576|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,717|2,042|7|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|1,979|2,026|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|1,523|2,326|49|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,122|2,564|26|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,118|1,352|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,213|1,726|625|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|992|2,908|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|1,974|1,934|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,436|2,472|0|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,804|2,926|14|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,214|3,133|10|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,573|2,734|7|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,826|3,593|15|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,461|3,504|5|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|786|3,599|38|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,662|1,884|4|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|896|2,231|360|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,319|1,961|53|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|660|1,799|87|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|486|1,688|508|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|729|1,550|126|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|693|1,215|147|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|652|1,768|48|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|576|1,783|6|Missouri}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|318|1,118|183|Missouri}}
{{PresFoot|1888|Democratic|360|1,157|8|Missouri}}
At the presidential level, Oregon County was solidly Democratic from its founding in 1845 through [[1996 United States presidential election in Missouri|1996]]; in [[1960 United States presidential election in Missouri|1960]], [[Richard Nixon]] became the first Republican ever to carry the county, but, aside from Nixon's landslide over [[George McGovern|McGovern]] in [[1972 United States presidential election in Missouri|1972]], it would not go Republican again until [[2000 United States presidential election in Missouri|2000]], when it voted for [[George W. Bush]].<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 13, 2021|website=Google Docs|language=en-US}}</ref> It voted Republican again in the next two elections, [[2004 United States presidential election in Missouri|2004]] and [[2008 United States presidential election in Missouri|2008]], although the Republican vote share shrank slightly in both elections. In [[2012 United States presidential election in Missouri|2012]], [[Mitt Romney]] became the first Republican since 1972 to break 60% in the county; in [[2016 United States presidential election in Missouri|2016]], [[Donald Trump]] became the first Republican to exceed 70%; and in [[2020 United States presidential election in Missouri|2020]], Trump became the first Republican to exceed 80%. The county has voted Republican for six elections straight as of 2020.

Like most rural areas throughout Southeast Missouri, voters in Oregon County generally adhere to socially and culturally [[Conservatism|conservative]] principles. 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 overwhelmingly passed Oregon County with 87.09 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 Oregon County with 56.78 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 Oregon County's longstanding tradition of supporting socially conservative platforms, voters in the county have a penchant for advancing [[Populism|populist]] causes like 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 Oregon County with 73.14 percent of the vote. The proposition strongly passed every single county in Missouri with 75.94 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 also strongly approved increases in the minimum wage.

===Missouri presidential preference primary (2008)===
{{main|2008 Missouri Democratic presidential primary|2008 Missouri Republican presidential primary}}
In the 2008 presidential primary, voters in Oregon County from both political parties supported candidates who finished in second place in the state at large and nationally. Former [[U.S. Senator]] [[Hillary Clinton]] (D-[[New York (state)|New York]]) received more votes, a total of 989, than any candidate from either party in Oregon County during the 2008 presidential primary.