Independent Sarah Thies Thompson narrowly defeated Republican Stacie McCutcheon in the race for Howard County Treasurer on Tuesday, November 3. Thompson won 1,707 votes (51.20%) to McCutcheon’s 1,617 (48.50%), according to unofficial results from the Howard County Clerk’s office. Countywide turnout was 51.31% of the 6,811 registered voters, down from County Clerk Shelly Howell’s prediction. However, heavy downpours that morning are suspected to have kept some voters at home.

Thompson will replace longtime Democrat Susan Keyton as Tresurer starting January 1.

“I want to thank everybody who voted for me. And I want to thank my family, and everyone who supported me through the campaign,” Thompson said. “I just wanted to be here to do the job. I'm going to do it for the people, whether Republican or Democrat.”

Thompson confirmed she would reopen the treasurer’s office full time upon taking office.

McCutcheon handily won the GOP nod for treasurer during the August primary over fellow Republican Michelle Johnmeyer. She thanked her supporters, stressing her desire to serve her community. “Of course, we're disappointed, but we're happy that we had a good turnout,” she said. “We appreciate everyone who supported us and everyone who went out and spoke for us. We're excited to give back to the community and find new ways to do that, even if it isn't in the capacity of treasurer. I have a strong heart for service, and I'm already involved in a lot of organizations that are building up Howard County.”

In the race for Missouri House District 48 representative, three-term Republican incumbent Tim Taylor of Bunceton held off Democratic challenger Hope Tinker of Fayette. Taylor received 2,130 votes (62.14%) to Tinker’s 1,294 (37.75%) locally. Districtwide, Taylor won by a slightly wider margin, 65.336% to 34.664%, or a vote count of 8,233 to 4,368.

Howard County voters split with the statewide results on several ballot measures. On Constitutional Amendment 3, which would have restricted abortion access and banned gender-transition procedures for minors, the county narrowly favored the measure 53.45% to 46.55%. Statewide, voters rejected Amendment 3, with roughly 55.5% voting no.

County voters narrowly approved Amendment 6 (51.16% yes), which raises the threshold for the legislature to overturn citizen-initiated measures. The measure passed more broadly statewide with 59.920% support.

Amendment 7, which proposed creating a permanent endowment fund aimed at eventually eliminating the state income tax, failed both in Howard County (60.46% no) and statewide (60.514% no).

Amendment 8, which would enshrine the election of county sheriffs in the state constitution and change the removal process, passed narrowly in Howard County (53.46% yes) and by a similar margin statewide (51.028% yes).

Howard County voters also rejected Proposition A, which asked voters to approve a new congressional map drawn by the legislature that would have created a new fifth district in the U.S. House of Representatives. But the Missouri Supreme Court rejected the new map, placing the measure in front of voters, despite its use in the primary election. The measure failed locally, with 57.63% voting against. Statewide, it won just 38.198% voter approval.

Voters here chose Fayette candidate Bradley Patty among six candidates for the fifth district during the August primary, with eventual winner, Missouri Senator Rick Brattin, placing second among Howard County voters.

In a statement issued on Tuesday night, Sen. Brattin thanked voters who supported him during the primary. “Unfortunately, the Missouri Supreme Court chose to make an unprecedented decision to benefit Democrats, swapping the congressional map after primary votes had already been certified, disenfranchising 1.2 million Missouri voters in the process and making it nearly impossible for a Republican to win in this district. In the future, I hope that the people of Missouri will be served by a Congressional map like the Missouri First map that better represents our state. The 5th District deserves a Congressman who will fight for them.”

Other local results showed strong support for Republican incumbents. Associate Circuit Judge Mason Gebhardt, Presiding Commissioner Jerimiah Johnmeyer, County Clerk Shelly Howell, Circuit Clerk and Recorder of Deeds Teresa Syferd, Prosecuting Attorney Deborah Riekhof, and Collector Jinger Felten were all unopposed for new terms.