Benton County, Minnesota

Benton County Sheriff

2 candidates are tracked for Benton County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: James "Jay" Dingmann and Joel M Schmidt. Candidate information follows official Benton County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Benton County Sheriff, per the Minnesota Secretary of State's candidate filings.

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. Nonpartisan: candidates appear without party labels. Every voter in Benton County votes on this seat.

Minnesota › Benton County › Benton County Sheriff

James "Jay" Dingmann

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Wants deputies prepared, proactive, and focused on public safety, not politics
Supports training and tools that match the demands of the job for deputies
Emphasizes staying ahead of rural crime, mental health crises, and emerging threats

Per the campaign site.

Biography

James "Jay" Dingmann is a senior sergeant with the Benton County Sheriff's Office who commands the Stearns-Benton SWAT Team, per his campaign site. He announced his candidacy in January 2026 after Sheriff Troy Heck said he would not seek reelection, per KNSI.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Joel M Schmidt

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Improving communication and operational systems for faster emergency response
Ensuring deputies have the tools, technology, and training to respond safely
Modernizing the sheriff's office with smarter systems and technology

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Joel Schmidt has more than 20 years of public safety experience in central Minnesota, including as a 911 dispatcher and field training officer, a drug task force investigator, a SWAT crisis negotiator, and a volunteer firefighter and EMT, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotBenton County Attorney

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Benton County Sheriff in 2026?

When is the Benton County Sheriff election in Minnesota?

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

How do I see my exact Benton 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 Benton County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Benton County ballot

27 tracked races in Benton County, Minnesota. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Benton County Soil and Water Supervisor District 2 Minnesota Senate District 10 Minnesota Senate District 13 See all 27 Benton County races

Candidate profiles

James "Jay" Dingmann, full profile Joel M Schmidt, full profile Official Minnesota election office