Brad Sandefur

About this race

The county's chief law-enforcement officer. Runs the sheriff's office and usually the county jail, patrols areas outside city police departments, and serves court papers.

2 candidates are running for Cook County Sheriff in the general election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

Immigration enforcement (ICE 287(g))

ICE's list of 287(g) participating agencies shows no agreement for Cook County's sheriff's office.

Under 287(g), ICE trains and authorizes local officers to carry out some federal immigration duties. From ICE's list of participating agencies, as of October 28, 2026. Whether to keep, change or end an agreement is up to the sheriff.

About Brad Sandefur

Cook County Sheriff's Office supervisor (shift commander). A Marine Corps veteran who enlisted as a military police officer and has worked for the Cook County Sheriff's Office since 1990, including 17 years as a shift commander; he is certified as a correctional, police and tactical officer and academy instructor. Holds a master's in criminal justice. He also ran for sheriff in 2022.

What they say they'll focus on:

• Revise the SAFE-T Act and Pretrial Fairness Act with stronger safeguards on repeat offenders
• Expand mental health diversion, psychiatric capacity and longer-term drug rehab
• Expand deputy training and field readiness
• Restructure the Sheriff's Merit Board and tighten hiring standards
• Clear disciplinary standards with fair due process

Summarized in our words from source 1, source 2, checked October 2026. Not an endorsement.

Where they stand

Moderately right, AI estimate from their own website (70% confidence).

How we got this: our AI model read their campaign site and placed Brad Sandefur by the policy positions stated there. It is never told the candidate's party. The positions it found: health care (center) (details under Issue by issue).

70% confidence means the positions it found mostly pointed one way. We show an AI estimate only at 70% or higher, and it's less certain than a voting record or donor score. How AI estimates work · the exact instructions it follows

Issue by issue

AI-estimated from their own website, never told the candidate's party. The percentage is the AI's confidence in which way that stance leans. An issue appears only when the AI finds a clearly stated position (it must be at least 60% sure they took one) and is at least 70% confident in its direction; otherwise we leave the issue out. The exact instructions

Funding

$7,967 raised, $584 from small donors, $6,633 self-funded.

Source: Illinois State Board of Elections, reports through 2026-09-30.

More about Brad Sandefur

Campaign website · Facebook · Ballotpedia

Social accounts are the ones linked from the candidate's own campaign site, or listed on Wikidata.

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Also running

• Thomas J. Dart · Democrat

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Quick answers

What party is Brad Sandefur?

Brad Sandefur is running as a Libertarian.

What does the Cook County Sheriff seat do?

The county's chief law-enforcement officer. Runs the sheriff's office and usually the county jail, patrols areas outside city police departments, and serves court papers.

Who is Brad Sandefur running against?

Thomas J. Dart, for Cook County Sheriff.

How much money has Brad Sandefur raised?

$7,967 as of the latest state campaign-finance filings.

Is Brad Sandefur liberal or conservative?

On SpectrumVote's left–right scale, Brad Sandefur is moderately right, AI estimate from their own website (70% confidence). This is an AI estimate and less certain than a published score.

Should I vote for Brad Sandefur?

SpectrumVote doesn't endorse anyone or tell you how to vote. Compare Brad Sandefur's record, funding and endorsements with the other candidates in this race and decide based on what matters to you.