A bitter sheriff's primary, a write-in campaign and a county divided
An unusual sheriff election in Lee County, Alabama, highlights how elected law enforcement often shapes issues of public safety, immigration and gun control.
A grassroots write-in campaign has been launched in Lee County, Alabama, in an effort to keep longtime sheriff Jay Jones in office. The campaign was sparked by the primary defeat of Jones by former deputy Cameron Hunt in May, with Jones losing by just 300 votes.
Jack Carter, a local resident, was contacted by someone who organized the write-in effort and was directed to a Facebook page for the campaign. He placed a "write in Sheriff Jay Jones" sign in his truck and posted a picture of it online. However, the campaign has been met with accusations and online bickering between supporters of Jones and Hunt.
Jones has denied any involvement in the write-in campaign and has even received threats from the Alabama Republican Party. He emphasizes that he is not involved and that voters have every right to write in any candidate they choose.
Sheriffs play a significant role in local public safety, jail operations, crime response, and bail management. There are 3,801 sheriffs in the United States, and in 2026, about 1,400 sheriffs across 20 states are up for election. Sheriffs often have broad authority and can influence regional policies such as immigration enforcement and gun control.
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