Both Jefferson County Commissioner incumbents emerged from Tuesday's May 19 primary with clear leads, according to unofficial results from the Oregon Secretary of State's office. Results were last updated on May 23 and remain unofficial until certification on June 25.
Position 1: Wunsch Over Curtiss by 18 Points
Incumbent Mark Wunsch took 58.6 percent of the vote — 3,508 ballots — against challenger George Curtiss, who received 40.5 percent (2,428 votes). Write-in candidates accounted for 53 votes (0.9 percent).
Wunsch, a familiar face on the Board of Commissioners, held off a determined challenge from Curtiss. Because both candidates are nonpartisan, the primary winner advances directly to the November general election rather than facing a runoff.
Position 2: Simmelink Leads Four-Way Field
Commissioner Kelly Simmelink, who has served since 2017, was the frontrunner in a crowded four-way race for Position 2. Simmelink took 53.9 percent of the vote (3,282 ballots), well ahead of the field.
Challenger Ara Erdekian finished second with 23.5 percent (1,434 votes), followed by Greg Mead at 15.3 percent (930 votes). Incumbent Bill Atherton trailed with 6.9 percent (418 votes).
Simmelink's performance mirrored that of Wunsch — both incumbents benefited from name recognition and established track records heading into what had been competitive races on paper.
What Comes Next
Both Wunsch and Simmelink will appear on the November 3 general election ballot. Formal certification of primary results is scheduled for June 25, 2026 by the Oregon Secretary of State. All results are currently unofficial.
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners oversees county government functions including roads, land use, and the county budget. Voters across all precincts, including Madras, Culver, Metolius, Crooked River Ranch, and the Warm Springs Reservation, participated in the vote-by-mail election.