Douglas County, Nebraska

Douglas County Sheriff

2 candidates are tracked for Douglas County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Aaron Hanson and Mark Martinez. Candidate information follows official Douglas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Hanson, the incumbent since January 2023, faces Martinez, a former U.S. Marshal for the District of Nebraska, on the November ballot, per the Douglas County Election Commission's Notice of General Election. Martinez's ballot eligibility was challenged by the Douglas County Republican Party over his law-enforcement certificate status; a Nebraska Supreme Court justice ruled he could remain on the ballot, per the Nebraska Examiner.

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 Douglas County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Aaron Hanson, is on the ballot.

Nebraska › Douglas County › Douglas County Sheriff

Aaron Hanson

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities

Addressing repeat violent offenders through specialized units
Addressing mental health and homelessness issues
Traffic safety enforcement

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Hanson was elected in 2022 as Douglas County's 31st Sheriff after 29 years of law enforcement service, including 26 years with the Omaha Police Department in roles such as K9 Unit Handler and Gang Unit Sergeant, per his campaign site. Before being elected Sheriff, he served as Executive Director of the Nebraska Center for Workforce Development and as President of the Omaha Police Officers Association, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Mark Martinez

Democratic

Biography

Mark Martinez served as U.S. Marshal for the District of Nebraska from 2010 to 2018, per the Nebraska Examiner. He previously spent 25 years with the Omaha Police Department, reaching the rank of deputy chief, before his marshal service, per the same source. No campaign website was found as of September 22, 2026.

Next on your ballotDouglas County Treasurer

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Douglas County Sheriff in 2026?

When is the Douglas County Sheriff election in Nebraska?

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

How do I see my exact Douglas 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 Douglas County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

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

The rest of your Douglas County ballot

21 tracked races in Douglas County, Nebraska. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Public Service Commission District 2 State Board of Education District 8 University of Nebraska Board of Regents District 2 See all 21 Douglas County races

Candidate profiles

Aaron Hanson, full profile Mark Martinez, full profile Official Nebraska election office