2 candidates are tracked for Onondaga County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Toby Shelley and RJ Lenhart. Candidate information follows official Onondaga County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Incumbent Sheriff Toby Shelley (Democratic, We The People), first elected in 2022, seeks re-election against RJ Lenhart (Republican, Conservative), a retired Syracuse police officer and Senior Investigator in the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, per WAER and the Onondaga County Board of Elections candidate list. This contest is on the November 3, 2026 ballot.
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 Onondaga County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Toby Shelley, is on the ballot.
New York › Onondaga County › Onondaga County Sheriff
Democratic Incumbent
Per the campaign site.
Shelley is the sitting Onondaga County Sheriff, first elected in 2022 after nearly three decades with the Sheriff's Office and 30 years in the Air Force and Air National Guard, per his campaign site.
Republican
Lenhart is a retired Syracuse police officer and former undersheriff now working as a Senior Investigator in the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, per WAER.
Who is running for Onondaga County Sheriff in 2026?
2 candidates are tracked for Onondaga County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Toby Shelley and RJ Lenhart. Candidate information follows official Onondaga County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
When is the Onondaga County Sheriff election in New York?
Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for New York are on the New York election hub at theballotbrief.com.
How do I see my exact Onondaga 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.
Candidate roster from official Onondaga County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official New York election office, or see the full Onondaga County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.
26 tracked races in Onondaga County, New York. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.