Oklahoma and much of the South and mid-West are largely run by politicians who lack human compassion, are career politicians who do the work of a few ultra-conservative, sociopathic, rich benefactors, and aren't interested in investing in future if it doesn't benefit them."Why most of rural America is red"
https://youtu.be/o8h_8NNSqig?t=32m32s
tl;dw: Because a few families in these counties run everything and act as a local mafia.