Jefferson County's two incumbent commissioners — Mark Wunsch (Position 1) and Kelly Simmelink (Position 2) — survived contested primary elections on May 20, advancing to the November general election where they'll each face their strongest remaining challengers.
Position 1: Wunsch Holds Off Curtiss
Commission Chair Mark Wunsch won his primary with approximately 59% of the vote, compared to 40% for challenger George Curtiss, a roughly 20-point margin. Curtiss, who grew up on Crooked River Ranch, ran an active campaign emphasizing rural representation. A third candidate, Tony Chard, also filed but did not advance past initial ballot certification.
Wunsch has served on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners and currently chairs the board. Curtiss did not qualify for the general election ballot based on primary results, leaving Wunsch's November path clearer — though the commission races will again appear on the November ballot.
Position 2: Simmelink Leads Four-Way Field
Commissioner Kelly Simmelink, who has served since 2017, earned 55% of the vote in a competitive four-way primary. Her three challengers — Bill Atherton, Greg Mead, and Ara Erdekian — split the remaining votes, with none coming close to Simmelink's total.
Under Oregon's election rules, with more than two candidates in a primary, the top two vote-getters advance to the general election. The second-place finisher among Simmelink's challengers will face her in November.
Looking Ahead to November
Both commissioner races and the sheriff's contest — incumbent Jason Pollock versus former deputy Tyler Anderson — will appear on Jefferson County's November 4, 2026 general election ballot. Voter registration for November closes 21 days before the election.
Jefferson County uses a vote-by-mail system. Ballots will be mailed to registered voters in mid-October. For election information, visit the Jefferson County Elections office at jeffco.net.