Washington County, Arkansas

Washington County Sheriff

One candidate is tracked for Washington County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Jay Cantrell. Candidate information follows official Washington County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Jay Cantrell (Republican) is the only candidate on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Washington County Sheriff, the sitting officeholder, per the Association of Arkansas Counties' 2026 general-election candidate list; unopposed candidates print on Arkansas ballots.

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 Washington County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Jay Cantrell, is on the ballot. One name is on the ballot for this seat.

Arkansas › Washington County › Washington County Sheriff

Jay Cantrell

Republican Incumbent

Biography

Jay Cantrell is the sitting Washington County Sheriff, per his campaign site. Raised in West Fork, Arkansas, he was hired by then-Sheriff Bud Dennis in 1981 at age 21, working first in the county jail before transferring to patrol, per his campaign site. He is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and the Drug Enforcement Agency's Drug Unit Commander Academy, per his campaign site. He was a founding member of the Strickler Volunteer Fire Department and has volunteered as a hospice and 4-H leader, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Washington County Sheriff in 2026?

When is the Washington County Sheriff election in Arkansas?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Arkansas are on the Arkansas election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Washington County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Washington County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Arkansas election office, or see the full Washington County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Washington County ballot

38 tracked races in Washington County, Arkansas. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Arkansas 4th Judicial Circuit Court, Division 2 (runoff)Arkansas Senate District 30 Arkansas Senate District 31 See all 38 Washington County races

Candidate profiles

Jay Cantrell, full profile Official Arkansas election office