Dakota County, Minnesota

Dakota County Sheriff

2 candidates are tracked for Dakota County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Bobby Lambert and Joe Leko. Candidate information follows official Dakota County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

2 candidates on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Dakota 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 Dakota County votes on this seat.

Minnesota › Dakota County › Dakota County Sheriff

Bobby Lambert

Nonpartisan

Top priorities

Would create a dedicated Mental Health Response Team within the Sheriff's Office
Wants to strengthen partnerships with mental health professionals to reduce recidivism
Emphasizes collaboration, transparency, and community engagement

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Bobby Lambert has nearly 30 years of law enforcement experience in the Dakota County Sheriff's Office, advancing through roles as patrol officer, sergeant, instructor and leader, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Joe Leko

Nonpartisan

Biography

Joe Leko is the incumbent Dakota County Sheriff, elected in November 2022 as the county's 21st sheriff and seeking re-election in 2026, per KDWA radio. He spent more than two decades in the Dakota County Sheriff's Office before taking the top job, including roles as a deputy, school resource officer, drug and gang investigator and chief deputy, per the same report, and has lived in Dakota County his entire life. No campaign website was found as of September 6, 2026.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotDakota County Attorney

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Dakota County Sheriff in 2026?

When is the Dakota 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 Dakota 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 Dakota County and state election office filings, last verified September 29, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Dakota County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Dakota County Soil and Water Supervisor District 4 Dakota County Soil and Water Supervisor District 5 Minnesota Senate District 20 See all 46 Dakota County races

Candidate profiles

Bobby Lambert, full profile Joe Leko, full profile Official Minnesota election office