Jefferson County's May 19, 2026 primary election has come and gone — and the results are now certified by the Oregon Secretary of State, with final counts posted as of June 25. Here's a breakdown of what voters decided and what's ahead for Jefferson County leadership.
County Sheriff
The race for Jefferson County Sheriff was one of the most closely watched contests on the ballot. Incumbent Sheriff Jason Pollock faced challenger Tyler Anderson, a former Jefferson County Sheriff's Office deputy whose candidacy attracted significant attention earlier this year over concerns about his placement on the Brady List — a disclosure of officers whose credibility has been called into question — and a DPSST (Department of Public Safety Standards and Training) certification review that was ongoing as of May.
The Madras Bulletin is continuing to follow developments in the DPSST review process and will report on outcomes as information becomes available. Readers with information or tips on this race are encouraged to reach out to our newsroom.
Commissioner Position 1
Incumbent Commissioner Mark Wunsch faced challengers George Curtiss and Tony Chard in Position 1. According to initial vote counts reported by Central Oregon Daily, both incumbents — Wunsch in Position 1 and Kelly Simmelink in Position 2 — held strong early leads over their challengers after ballots were first counted on election night.
Commissioner Position 2
Incumbent Commissioner Kelly Simmelink, who has held her seat since 2017, faced a four-way field: challengers Ara Erdekian, Greg Mead, and Bill Atherton. Simmelink's long tenure and name recognition appeared to serve her well in the initial count.
What's Next
With the primary settled, attention now turns to the November 2026 general election. In Oregon's nonpartisan county races, the top vote-getter in a primary with more than two candidates advances directly — and in some cases, a candidate who secures a majority in the primary can win outright without a November runoff.
The Madras Bulletin will publish full certified results and analysis of all Jefferson County races in an upcoming edition. If you have questions about the election or want to share your perspective on local leadership, write to us at madrasbulletin.com.
Editor's note: Full certified vote totals for all Jefferson County races will be published as a follow-up to this overview. The Oregon Secretary of State's election results portal is available at results.oregonvotes.gov.