Howell County splits with statewide voters on key ballot measures, sweeps GOP slate

Published 3:14 pm Friday, November 6, 2026

By Kimberly Langston

While Howell County voters swept Republican candidates into office by wide margins Tuesday, local ballots revealed a sharp contrast with the rest of Missouri on several high-profile constitutional amendments and statutory questions.

The most pronounced divide emerged on Amendment 3, a citizen-led initiative that sought to repeal Missouri’s 2024 voter-approved constitutional protections for abortion and ban gender transition procedures for minors. Statewide, Missouri voters rejected the measure 55% to 45%. In Howell County, the outcome was reversed: 68% of local voters favored passing the repeal, while 32% voted against it.

A similar divergence played out on Amendment 6, which aimed to shield voter-approved ballot initiatives from subsequent legislative modification or repeal. The amendment was approved statewide by a 60% to 40% margin. Howell County voters strongly resisted the measure, rejecting it 59% to 41%.

Local voters also backed Proposition A, a referendum measure seeking to reinstate a 2025 congressional redistricting map that had been blocked by federal courts for use in Tuesday’s election. Although it failed statewide with only 38% support against 62% opposed, Howell County voters approved the redistricting proposal 54% to 46%.

On two other constitutional questions, Howell County voters aligned with statewide trends Amendment 8, which protects the elected status of county sheriffs and restricts removal mechanisms, passed statewide 51% to 49% and received decisive local backing with 64% approval. Amendment 7, which proposed eliminating state individual income taxes in favor of an S&P 500-linked fund, failed statewide 61% to 39% and was rejected in Howell County 56% to 44%.

STATE LEGISLATIVE & CONGRESSIONAL RACES

In legislative contests, Republican incumbents easily carried Howell County.

In the 154th House District, which encompasses the majority of Howell County across 21 precincts, incumbent Republican Rep. Lisa Durnell secured re-election with 78% of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger JoJo Stewart, who garnered 22%.

Within the two Howell County precincts that are part of the 153rd House District, Republican Rep. Keith Elliott retained his seat with 76% of the vote over Democrat Les Majors’ 24%. Districtwide, Elliott won with 79% of total ballots cast. The district also includes Oregon, Carter and Ripley counties and parts of Shannon and Wayne counties.

In the race for Missouri’s 8th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, secured a victory with 68% of the vote districtwide over Democrat Chris Reichard (29%) and Libertarian Rebecca Lombard (3%). In Howell County, Smith secured 76% of the local vote, compared to 21% for Reichard and 3% for Lombard.

State Auditor Scott Fitzpatrick, a Republican, comfortably defended his seat locally with 77% of Howell County votes against Democrat Quentin Wilson’s 20% and Libertarian Dustin Coffell’s 3%. Statewide, Fitzpatrick faced a far closer race, edging out Wilson 51% to 46%, with Coffell collecting 3%.

LOCAL & JUDICIAL CONTESTS

With no contested races on the local ballot, Howell County’s Republican slate was reelected into office without opposition.

Presiding Commissioner Ralph Riggs, County Clerk Kelly Waggoner, Circuit Court Clerk Cynthia Lee, Recorder of Deeds Jeff Brasier, Treasurer Nancy Franz, Prosecuting Attorney Mike Hutchings and Collector Janet Crow all retained their positions.

In the 37th Judicial Circuit, which encompasses Howell, Shannon, Oregon and Carter counties, Republicans Melissa Stewart and Heath Hardman won unopposed bids for associate circuit judge.

On judicial retention questions, Howell County voters backed Supreme Court Justice Paul Wilson with 66% “yes” votes to 34% “no” (retained statewide 63% to 37%) and Southern District Court of Appeals Judge Matthew Hamner with 77% “yes” votes to 23% “no” (retained statewide 73% to 27%).