Thurston County, Washington

Thurston County Sheriff

2 candidates are tracked for Thurston County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Derek Sanders and Kevin Burton-Crow. Candidate information follows official Thurston County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Derek Sanders (Independent) and Kevin Burton-Crow (Democratic) meet on the November 3 ballot for Thurston County Sheriff, per the Secretary of State's VoteWA general-election candidate list. August 4 top-two primary: Derek Sanders 70.9 percent, Kevin Burton-Crow 29.1 percent, per the county's official results. Washington's top-two primary sends the two leading candidates to November regardless of party; party labels are stated preferences.

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 Thurston County votes on this seat. The sitting officeholder, Derek Sanders, is on the ballot.

Washington › Thurston County › Thurston County Sheriff

Derek Sanders

Independent Incumbent

Top priorities

Continue a community-centered approach to public safety and de-escalation training
Build regional law enforcement partnerships across the county
Keep the sheriff's office visible and active in the community

Per the county's voters' pamphlet.

Biography

Sanders has served as Thurston County Sheriff since 2022, per the county's official voters' pamphlet. He previously spent 12 years in law enforcement, including as a Lacey Police Department community service officer and a Thurston County deputy sheriff, per the same source. Derek Sanders appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Thurston County Sheriff, per the county elections office's certified candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 7, 2026.

Kevin Burton-Crow

Democratic

Top priorities

Seek outside accreditation and publish department policies for transparency
Expand victim-centered and harm-reduction training for deputies
Publish clear annual budget disclosures for taxpayers

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Burton-Crow currently serves as a Special Victims Detective with the Thurston County Sheriff's Office and previously worked as a patrol deputy, per the county's official voters' pamphlet. He is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class with deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, per the same source. Kevin Burton-Crow appears on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Thurston County Sheriff, per the county elections office's certified candidate list.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Next on your ballotThurston County Treasurer

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Thurston County Sheriff in 2026?

When is the Thurston County Sheriff election in Washington?

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

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

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

The rest of your Thurston County ballot

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

Also on your ballot

Thurston County District Court Judge Pos. 1 Thurston County District Court Judge Pos. 2 Thurston County District Court Judge Pos. 3 See all 25 Thurston County races

Candidate profiles

Derek Sanders, full profile Kevin Burton-Crow, full profile Official Washington election office