Brad Sandefur is running for Cook County sheriff as the Libertarian Party candidate in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. He faces Thomas J. Dart, the Democratic candidate. Sandefur is certified for the ballot, according to BallotReady election data.

Asked why he is running, Sandefur said in the Oak Park Wire's candidate questionnaire: "Department morale is lower than ever. The department has more deputies injured on duty than ever before. … We need to reduce recidivism without creating more victims." He added, "I want to rebuild police legitimacy and public trust in law enforcement."

Candidate information

Occupation and work history: "Deputy Sheriff-Sergeant with the Cook County Sheriff's Office. 37 years with the Sheriff's Office. Former U.S. Marine. 47 years in law enforcement," Sandefur said in our questionnaire.

Education: "U.S. Marine Corps training and attended the Military Police-Corrections school," Sandefur said. He said he received "a Master's degree in Criminal Justice with a cognate in Forensic Psychology" from Liberty University, graduating "with 'High Honors' and a perfect GPA." He said he "earned my Bachelor of Professional Studies (BPS)in Criminal Justice from Roosevelt University, graduating with honors and a 3.97 GPA." He also said he "graduated with Honors from Oakton Community College, earning an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Law Enforcement" and was "Cook County Sheriff's Office academy-Valedictorian." He added, "I have also trained with the FBI, the Secret Service, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons."

Family: "I have been married for 36 years. I have three daughters, all mentally or physically disabled, and one son, who is also my grandson, whom I adopted and have raised since birth. He suffers from autism and cerebral palsy," Sandefur said.

Party affiliation: "I am a Conservative Libertarian and am the Libertarian Party-endorsed candidate. I am also affiliated with and endorsed by the Independence party," Sandefur said.

Previous elected or appointed office: "I have never held an elected or appointed office," Sandefur said.

Experience and public service

According to his Libertarian Party profile, Sandefur has served as an investigator, academy instructor and instructor for Crime Awareness and Officer Friendly programs at the Cook County Sheriff's Department. BallotReady profile data lists him as a deputy sheriff and sergeant at the department since 1990 and a sergeant-transportation shift commander since 2013.

On the issues

Differences from opponent: Asked what sets him apart, Sandefur said: "I would be the first sheriff to work for the department from the ground up. … I have done the job, made the decisions, taken the risks, and gone through the training. I am a certified police officer, correctional officer, tactical officer, and academy instructor." He said he has "30 years of supervisory experience and 17 years as a shift commander."

Mental health crisis response: Sandefur said he would "ensure everyone is trained and certified in Crisis Intervention Training." He proposed incorporating "a degree of RBT (Registered Behavior Technician) training … to create a better understanding of why young people, low-IQ people, addicted brains, and developmentally challenged individuals tend to think and react to stimuli." He said the department could "work with BCBA's (Board Certified Behavior Analysts) and psychologists to develop a response curriculum/policy." To measure progress, he said "a reduction in arrests of developmentally challenged, low-IQ individuals, etc., for relatively minor acts such as Obstruction, Resisting Arrest, or similar charges, in combination with an increase in more appropriate residential/treatment placement, could be the measuring stick."

Other policy positions: According to his campaign website, Sandefur advocates for streamlining discharge procedures for people ordered released from sheriff's custody, modifying the Pretrial Fairness Act, revamping the Sheriff's Merit Board, better pre-hire investigations, mental health diversion programs without creating an arrest record, more residential psychiatric facilities and longer-stay drug rehabilitation programs.

Candidate responses were collected through the Surround Sound News candidate questionnaire. Answers are presented in the candidate's own words and have not been edited for content.