Brad Sandefur is running for Cook County Sheriff as the Libertarian Party candidate in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Thomas J. Dart, the Democratic candidate.

Asked why he is seeking the office, Sandefur said in our candidate questionnaire: "Department morale is lower than ever. The department has more deputies injured on duty than ever before. … We need to reduce recidivism without creating more victims. … I want to rebuild police legitimacy and public trust in law enforcement."

Candidate information

Occupation and work history: "Deputy Sheriff-Sergeant with the Cook County Sheriff's Office. 37 years with the Sheriff's Office. Former U.S. Marine. 47 years in law enforcement."

Education: "U.S. Marine Corps training and attended the Military Police-Corrections school. I received a Master's degree in Criminal Justice with a cognate in Forensic Psychology. Graduated with 'High Honors" and a perfect GPA from Liberty University. … I earned my Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)in Criminal Justice from Roosevelt University, graduating with honors and a 3.97 GPA. I also graduated with Honors from Oakton Community College, earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Law Enforcement … Cook County Sheriff's Office academy-Valedictorian … Cook County Sheriff's Police Academy. I have also trained with the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons"

Family: "I have been married for 36 years. I have three daughters, all mentally or physically disabled, and one son, who is also my grandson, whom I adopted and have raised since birth. He suffers from autism and cerebral palsy."

Party affiliation: "I am a Conservative Libertarian and am the Libertarian Party-endorsed candidate. I am also affiliated with and endorsed by the Independence party"

Previous elected or appointed office: "I have never held an elected or appointed office."

Experience and public service

According to his Libertarian Party profile, Sandefur has served as an investigator, academy instructor and instructor in the Crime Awareness and Officer Friendly programs at the Cook County Sheriff's Department. BallotReady profile data shows his roles as deputy sheriff and sergeant starting in 1990 and sergeant-transportation shift commander starting in 2013. He served in the United States Marine Corps from 1980 to 1981.

On the issues

Critical differences from other candidates: Sandefur said in our questionnaire: "I would be the first sheriff to work for the department from the ground up. … I have done the job, made the decisions, taken the risks, and gone through the training. I am a certified police officer, correctional officer, tactical officer, and academy instructor. … I have 30 years of supervisory experience and 17 years as a shift commander."

Past accomplishments: Sandefur said: "I graduated from Marine Corps Boot Camp with a Meritorious promotion. I have worked in the jail, in the courtroom, and on the street. … I spent 8 years as a supervisor in the Records office and 7 as a shift commander, where I instituted changes that increased efficiency and reduced lost or misplaced paperwork and missing files. … I was one of only 24 deputies selected for a special tactical unit."

Mental health crisis response: Asked what step he would take to improve how deputies respond to mental health crisis calls, Sandefur said: "Ensure everyone is trained and certified in Crisis Intervention Training. I would have a degree of RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) training incorporated with some training in how the brain works and develops to create a better understanding of why young people, low-IQ people, addicted brains, and developmentally challenged individuals tend to think and react to stimuli …"

He added that the department could "work with BCBA's (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) and psychologists to develop a response curriculum/policy when contact with such individuals is made." As a measure of success, he pointed to "a reduction in arrests of developmentally challenged, low-IQ individuals, etc., for relatively minor acts such as Obstruction, Resisting Arrest, or similar charges, in combination with an increase in more appropriate residential/treatment placement …"

According to his campaign website, Sandefur also advocates for mental health diversion programs without creating an arrest record and more residential psychiatric facilities. He also calls for longer-stay drug rehabilitation programs, modifications to the Pretrial Fairness Act, revamping the Sheriff's Merit Board and better pre-hire investigations.

Best advice: "Let God lead and pay attention to the little things."

Candidate responses were collected through the Evanston Wire candidate questionnaire. Answers are presented in the candidate's own words and have not been edited for content.