Joseph Banks

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 ran for Hennepin 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 Hennepin 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 Joseph Banks

Law enforcement officer; former police chief. Cites 20 years in law enforcement, including service with the Lower Sioux Police Department, as police chief of the Upper Sioux Police Department and of Morton, and later as Lower Sioux chief investigator and acting police chief. He ran against Dawanna Witt for sheriff in 2022.

What they say they'll focus on:

• Lowering violent crime
• More visible deputies in communities
• Hiring more deputies
• Working with residents to identify problem areas
• Ending billing of communities for services he says should already be provided

In their own words: Sun Current (Hometown Source) questionnaire

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

Where they stand

This is a nonpartisan race, so we don't estimate where candidates fall from their campaign materials or look up their personal voter registration. We'd place Joseph Banks only with a published academic score (from a voting record or campaign donors), and we haven't found one we can reliably source.

To see where they stand, read their own words: Sun Current (Hometown Source) questionnaire. What they say they'll focus on is listed above.

Compare everyone in this race · How placements work

More about Joseph Banks

Ballotpedia

Are you Joseph Banks?

Share this page with your supporters. Every candidate in this race gets the same page and the same treatment. If something here is wrong or missing, tell us with a source and we'll fix it.

ShareReport a problem

Also running

• Dawanna Witt

Compare everyone in this race →

Next elections here

• 2028 presidential election · Who has filed so far, from FEC filings

Quick answers

What does the Hennepin 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 Joseph Banks running against?

Dawanna Witt, for Hennepin County Sheriff.

Should I vote for Joseph Banks?

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