John Samaniego
Republican
Biography
John Samaniego is the incumbent Shelby County sheriff, per the sheriff's office's official website. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.
Shelby County, Alabama
Shelby County Sheriff
Shelby County, Alabama
Shelby County Sheriff
2 candidates are tracked for Shelby County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: John Samaniego and Antonio Weatherly. Candidate information follows official Shelby County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
About this race
May 19 Republican primary result, per official results: incumbent John Samaniego won with 70.71 percent (17,059 votes) over Ken Bailey (29.29 percent). Antonio Weatherly was the unopposed Democratic nominee. The two meet on the November 3 ballot.
What this office does
Sheriff. The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement agency, operates the county jail, provides courthouse security and serves court papers such as warrants, subpoenas and evictions. In many counties the sheriff's office is the primary police force for areas outside city limits. The sheriff hires deputies and manages the office's budget within what the county board approves.
This race. Every voter in Shelby County votes on this seat.