Five Washington Counties Elect New Sheriffs

Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Yakima and Kittitas counties will choose sheriffs in the November 2026 general election.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Five Washington Counties Elect New Sheriffs

Live Poll

Do you trust your county sheriff's office to keep your community safe?

Voters in five Washington counties will elect sheriffs in the November 2026 general election. In Benton County, incumbent Michael (Mike) Clark faces Brad Klippert, while in Franklin County, Monty Huber and Christopher (Chris) Lee are running to succeed retiring Sheriff J.D. Raymond.

Why it matters

Multiple sheriff seats changing hands or being contested at once shapes local law enforcement leadership across a significant part of the state. The races bring candidates with decades of law enforcement and legislative experience before voters in November.

Five counties are holding sheriff elections on the November 2026 general ballot, with no results yet available. Candidate tenure and experience are documented, but the extraction does not report any contested primary outcomes or official endorsements.

The players

Michael (Mike) Clark

Clark is the incumbent Benton County Sheriff, appointed in 2025 after 22 years with the county sheriff's office.

Brad Klippert

Klippert is a Benton County Sheriff's deputy since 1999 who has also represented Washington's 8th Legislative District in the state House for 14 years.

J.D. Raymond

Raymond is the Franklin County Sheriff who is retiring, opening the seat now contested by Huber and Lee.

Christopher (Chris) Lee

Lee is a candidate for Franklin County Sheriff and chief of the Connell Police Department with more than 25 years of law enforcement experience.

Monty Huber

Huber is a candidate for Franklin County Sheriff who has served with the Franklin County Sheriff's Office for more than two decades.

The details

In Benton County, Clark was appointed sheriff in 2025 by unanimous vote of the Board of Commissioners and is seeking election against Klippert, a deputy since 1999 who has represented the 8th Legislative District for 14 years. In Franklin County, Huber has served with the sheriff's office for more than two decades, while Lee chairs the Connell Police Department.

November 2026: General election for sheriff in Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Yakima and Kittitas counties.

Legal Context

Washington sheriffs are elected at the county level under state law, so these five simultaneous contests follow the standard statewide election cycle. The contested seats reflect routine leadership turnover in local law enforcement rather than a departure from that system.

Residents in Benton, Franklin, Walla Walla, Yakima and Kittitas counties will decide who leads their sheriff's offices in November. Voters can review each candidate's background ahead of the general election to inform their ballot choice.

The takeaway

Sheriff elections are a direct way for county voters to shape local public safety priorities. Reviewing each candidate's experience before November can help voters make an informed choice.