Jefferson County voters returned both of their sitting county commissioners to office in the May 19, 2026 primary election. Incumbent Mark Wunsch held off challenger George Curtiss in the Position 1 race, while Commissioner Kelly Simmelink — facing three opponents — managed to clear the majority threshold and win outright in Position 2.

Position 1: Wunsch Defeats Curtiss

In the race for Commission Position 1, incumbent Mark Wunsch — currently serving as commission chair — captured approximately 58% of the vote. Challenger George Curtiss, a Crooked River Ranch resident who had campaigned on bringing fresh representation to the county's rural communities, received roughly 40%. A third candidate, Tony Chard, accounted for the remainder.

Because Wunsch received more than 50% of the vote, no November runoff is required. He will continue serving as Position 1 commissioner.

Position 2: Simmelink Clears the Bar

The race for Position 2 was more suspenseful. Incumbent Kelly Simmelink, who has served on the commission since 2017, faced a field of three challengers: Ara Erdekian, Greg Mead, and Bill Atherton. Simmelink earned approximately 54–55% of the vote, narrowly clearing the majority needed to avoid a general election runoff. Erdekian was the top vote-getter among challengers with around 24%.

Under Jefferson County's election rules, commissioner candidates who receive a majority at the primary are elected outright. Had Simmelink fallen short, the top two vote-getters would have advanced to November.

Overall Turnout

County election officials reported moderate turnout for a primary election, with about 38% of eligible registered voters returning their ballots — roughly in line with historical averages for an off-year primary. Remaining mailed ballots postmarked by May 19 will continue to be counted through May 26, with signature challenges resolvable through June 9.

Final certified results are expected by June 25, 2026.

What This Means

The sweeping incumbent victories continue a pattern of stability in Jefferson County government. Neither Wunsch nor Simmelink faced significant primary opposition that managed to break through, though challengers in both races raised concerns about housing affordability, rural road conditions, and county services in communities like Crooked River Ranch, Culver, and Metolius.

The county's sheriff race between incumbent Jason Pollock and candidate Tyler Anderson was not on the primary ballot, as Oregon law requires a minimum of three candidates to trigger a sheriff primary. Both candidates will appear on the November 3 general election ballot.