With Jefferson County’s May 19 primary now in the rearview mirror, the county’s most consequential fall race is taking shape: incumbent Sheriff Jason Pollock versus former Jefferson County deputy Tyler Anderson in the November general election.

The race has been anything but ordinary.

The Anderson Controversy

Anderson, who spent a decade with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office before being fired last year, filed to run for the very position held by the man who terminated him. His termination paperwork, obtained by OPB, alleges that Anderson was “untruthful” on multiple occasions during his tenure.

Anderson is also listed on the Brady List — a database of law enforcement officers whose credibility in court may be compromised due to documented dishonesty or misconduct. Being Brady-listed is a significant liability for a working police officer.

In May, the state’s Police Policy Committee took up the matter and recommended that Anderson be stripped of his DPSST police certifications — the state credentials required to work as a peace officer in Oregon. The hearing took place May 21, just two days after the primary election.

Despite these headwinds, Anderson qualified for the November ballot after a two-person nonpartisan primary in which all candidates advance regardless of vote share.

The Incumbent

Jason Pollock was appointed as Jefferson County Sheriff in June 2022 after the previous sheriff resigned, then won the general election that November to begin his first full term. He is now seeking a second term against the man he dismissed.

Pollock has not made extensive public statements about the race in recent weeks, but his record as the county’s top law enforcement officer will be central to the November contest.

Commissioner Races Also Heading to November

Two Jefferson County Commissioner seats are also on the November ballot, with both incumbents having performed strongly in the primary:

  • Position 1: Mark Wunsch defeated challenger George Curtiss by approximately 20 percentage points in the initial primary count.
  • Position 2: Kelly Simmelink, who has served as commissioner since 2017, earned 55% of the vote in a four-way primary field that included Bill Atherton, Greg Mead, and Ara Erdekian.

Both incumbents will face general election opponents in November, though their primary margins suggest significant community support heading into the fall.

The general election is November 3, 2026. Voter registration deadlines and ballot return information is available through the Jefferson County Clerk’s office at jeffersoncountyor.gov.