Changes

As the above numbers indicate, despite voting solidly Democratic on the local level, Reynolds County is at present a fairly reliably [[Republican]] county at the state and national level. This is a somewhat recent development; during the 20th century, it voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in all but two elections (1960 and 1972). The traditionally Democratic-leaning miners of the "Lead Belt" played a part in this, though less so than in the mining heartlands to the north and east. It voted for [[George W. Bush]] in 2000, however, and has steadily trended Republican since then, as blue-collar workers became alienated by the Democratic Party’s social radicalism. In 2016, [[Donald Trump]] carried the county with 79.20% of the vote.<ref>https://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/CountyResults.aspx</ref>

As the above numbers indicate, despite voting solidly Democratic on the local level, Reynolds County is at present a fairly reliably [[Republican]] county at the state and national level. This is a somewhat recent development; during the 20th century, it voted for the Democratic presidential candidate in all but two elections (1960 and 1972). The traditionally Democratic-leaning miners of the "Lead Belt" played a part in this, though less so than in the mining heartlands to the north and east. It voted for [[George W. Bush]] in 2000, however, and has steadily trended Republican since then, as blue-collar workers became alienated by the Democratic Party’s social radicalism. In 2016, [[Donald Trump]] carried the county with 79.20% of the vote.<ref>https://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/CountyResults.aspx</ref>

   

   

Like much of southern Missouri, Reynolds County can be included within the [[Bible Belt]], combining social [[conservatism]] with economic [[populism]]. In 2004, it voted overwhelmingly in favor of Constitutional Amendment 2, which recognized marriage as between a man and a woman only--the measure passed in Iron County with 85.41% support. In 2006, while the state narrowly passed an amendment to fund embryonic stem-cell research, the county decisively defeated the measure with 54.15% voting against. At the same time, it often supports economic measures that appear to favor the working and middle class. In the November 2018 election, the county supported a proposed increase in the state minimum wage, with 54.81% voting in favor (it passed the state at large). These results generally align with the rest of southern Missouri.

Like much of southern Missouri, Reynolds County can be included within the [[Bible Belt]], combining social [[conservatism]] with economic [[populism]]. In 2004, it voted overwhelmingly in favor of Constitutional Amendment 2, which recognized marriage as between a man and a woman only--the measure passed in Reynolds County with 85.41% support. In 2006, while the state narrowly passed an amendment to fund embryonic stem-cell research, the county decisively defeated the measure with 54.15% voting against. At the same time, it often supports economic measures that appear to favor the working and middle class. In the November 2018 election, the county supported a proposed increase in the state minimum wage, with 54.81% voting in favor (it passed the state at large). These results generally align with the rest of southern Missouri.

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