Jefferson County’s May 19 primary election produced clear signals for the fall, with both incumbent county commissioners posting strong showings over their challengers. Final certified results were updated by the Oregon Secretary of State on June 21, 2026.
Commissioner Position 1: Wunsch Leads Curtiss by 20 Points
Incumbent Mark Wunsch held a commanding lead over challenger George Curtiss in the race for Commissioner Position 1, coming out roughly 20 percentage points ahead after initial vote counts. A third candidate, Tony Chard, also appeared on the ballot.
Wunsch, who has served on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners, benefited from incumbency and name recognition across the county. Curtiss had sought to make the race competitive but fell significantly short in early returns.
Commissioner Position 2: Simmelink Wins Crowded Field
In a four-way race for Position 2, incumbent Kelly Simmelink — who has served on the board since 2017 — captured approximately 55% of the vote against challengers Bill Atherton, Greg Mead, and Ara Erdekian.
In Oregon’s nonpartisan local races, winning more than 50% in the primary means winning outright — no general election needed. Simmelink’s result, if certified above 50%, would mean he retains his seat without a November runoff. Final certification was expected by June 21.
Sheriff Race: Pollock vs. Anderson in November
The race for Jefferson County Sheriff is a nonpartisan contest between incumbent Sheriff Jason Pollock and challenger Tyler Anderson, a former Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
Anderson was previously the subject of scrutiny after being identified on Oregon’s Brady List — a disclosure list of law enforcement officers with sustained findings of dishonesty or other disqualifying conduct — and faced a DPSST certification review in May. The race has drawn considerable local attention given those questions about Anderson’s background.
Pollock was first appointed to the sheriff role in June 2022 after the prior sheriff resigned, and subsequently won election in 2022. He is now seeking his second full term.
Both candidates will face off in the November general election. The Madras Bulletin will provide full candidate profiles and voter guide coverage ahead of November.
What’s Next
With primary results certified, attention turns to the November 3, 2026, general election. Jefferson County voters will weigh in on the sheriff’s race and any commissioner contests that did not resolve in the primary. Candidate forums and voter guides are expected in September and October.