Voters Decide Will County Sheriff Race in Tuesday's Election

The Will County sheriff's office will have new leadership after Tuesday's general election. Voters in the county cast ballots to choose between Democratic candidate Patrick Jones and Republican candidate Jim Reilly. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Polls closed across Illinois on Tuesday, Nov. 3. Election officials are now counting the votes. The results are unofficial until authorities certify the final tallies. The race determined who would succeed the current administration.

Patrick Jones ran as the Democratic nominee. He secured 59 percent of the vote in the spring primary. Undersheriff Dan Jungles received 40 percent. Jones announced his candidacy in February 2025. He cited 24 years of experience in the Will County Sheriff's Office. He currently holds the rank of sergeant in the patrol division.

Jones emphasized his desire to change how the office interacts with residents. He said the squad car has become a barrier to the community. He wants to build trust through transparency. Jones has lived in Will County for 26 years. He began his career in 2001 as a correctional officer. He joined the Emergency Response Team a year later. He graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy in 2009.

His service includes work as a patrol deputy for nine years. In 2018, he became a Crime Scene Investigator. He completed courses at Northwestern University. He became a SWAT tactical operator in 2012. He finished basic and advanced training, including sniper courses. He currently serves as an Assistant Team Leader on the Crisis Negotiation Team. He achieved the rank of sergeant in 2019.

Jim Reilly won the Republican nomination with minimal competition in March. This is his third bid for the sheriff's seat. Reilly is a sheriff's deputy. In the 2022 election, he faced incumbent Sheriff Mike Kelley. Unofficial counts on election night showed Reilly ahead by 289 votes. He lost the race after mail-in ballots were counted.

During the 2022 campaign, Reilly spoke about the Safe-T Act. He argued that the bill would release violent offenders. He said law enforcement would be unable to hold these individuals in jail. He criticized the current sheriff for not speaking out against the bill. He noted that the State's Attorney had filed a lawsuit. He believed the silence risked the safety of communities and officers.

The Democratic primary featured a split in the party base. Three-term Sheriff Mike Kelley endorsed Undersheriff Dan Jungles. He urged voters to follow his recommendation. Many Democratic voters chose Jones instead. They signaled a desire to end the Kelley administration. The primary results set the stage for the general election contest.

The candidates presented distinct backgrounds and platforms. Jones focused on community interaction and his long tenure in the office. Reilly focused on policy issues and his prior electoral performance. The final certified results will confirm the next sheriff. The office will transition to the winner following the certification process.