The Oregon Secretary of State updated Jefferson County's primary election results through June 8, and the picture for both commissioner races is clear: the incumbents are in strong positions heading toward November.
Position 1: Wunsch Over Curtiss by 20 Points
In the race for Commissioner Position 1, incumbent Mark Wunsch — currently serving as commission chair — leads challenger George Curtiss by roughly 20 percentage points. Wunsch holds approximately 58.6% of the vote to Curtiss's 40.5%.
A third candidate, Tony Chard, was also on the ballot but did not advance significantly in the count.
Wunsch has served on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners and is running on his record of county management. Curtiss, who grew up in Crooked River Ranch, positioned himself as a fresh voice for the eastern and rural parts of the county.
Position 2: Simmelink Dominates Crowded Field
In the four-way race for Commissioner Position 2, incumbent Kelly Simmelink — first elected in 2017 — is leading with approximately 54.9% of the vote. Challenger Ara Erdekian placed second with roughly 23.7%, followed by Greg Mead at 13.9% and Bill Atherton at the rear of the field.
Simmelink's majority showing in a contested four-way primary reflects strong name recognition and voter confidence built over nearly a decade of service.
What Comes Next
Both races move to the November 2026 general election. Oregon's nonpartisan commissioner races are decided by simple majority in November, regardless of primary performance — meaning Curtiss and Erdekian (the top challengers in each race) will have a second opportunity to make their case to Jefferson County voters.
The general election will also include the high-profile sheriff's race between incumbent Jason Pollock and challenger Tyler Anderson, whose DPSST certification is under review.
Jefferson County voters should expect their November ballots to arrive in late October. Voter registration updates and information can be found at the Jefferson County Clerk's office or at oregonvotes.gov.