Who is running for Sheriff in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Mecklenburg County.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Garry L. McFadden
Democrat · IncumbentSheriff of Mecklenburg County
Garry McFadden has been Mecklenburg County sheriff since December 2018 and is seeking a third term23. He spent 36 years with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, largely as a homicide detective, and starred in the television series "I Am Homicide"2. He won the March 2026 Democratic primary with about 34 percent of the vote and has no Republican opponent in November31.
Where they stand 2 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
ImmigrationNo single answer fitsmedium
Official action · medium confidence- Ended the Sheriff's Office participation in the federal 287(g) immigration enforcement program after taking office in December 2018 and declined to honor ICE detainers before state law required it. (2018-12) source
- Said his office would follow House Bill 318 and cooperate with ICE as state law requires, but would not take part in immigration enforcement in the community. (2025-10) source
- Said 287(g), House Bill 10 and House Bill 318 erode community trust and divert local resources, while saying he would follow the laws once passed. (2025-03) source
Policing and crimeNo single answer fitslow
Said · low confidence- Named domestic violence, community gun violence (which he said demands both enforcement and prevention) and evictions as his top public safety issues, and staffing and mental health programs as his office's biggest challenges. (2026-02) source
No public position found on: Guns, Marijuana, Qualified immunity.
Last reviewed 2026-10-06. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.