DuPage County Sheriff Runs for Illinois Governor

James Mendrick focuses campaign on public safety and reducing crime

Feb. 20, 2026 at 10:25pm

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In February 2025, DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick announced he was running for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois, with a focus on public safety and reducing crime. Mendrick believes many people misunderstand the role of a sheriff's office, seeing it as a police department.

Why it matters

As a county sheriff, Mendrick has direct experience with public safety and law enforcement issues, which he hopes will set him apart in the Republican primary. Crime and public safety are expected to be key issues in the 2026 Illinois gubernatorial election.

The details

Mendrick announced his gubernatorial campaign on social media, emphasizing his focus on public safety and reducing crime across the state. As a county sheriff, he believes he has a unique perspective on these issues compared to other candidates.

  • Mendrick announced his campaign for governor in February 2025.

The players

James Mendrick

The DuPage County Sheriff who is running for the Republican nomination for governor of Illinois.

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What they’re saying

“A lot of people misunderstand a sheriff's office, thinking it's just a police department. But we have a lot of responsibilities beyond that, including court security, serving warrants, and managing the county jail.”

— James Mendrick, DuPage County Sheriff

What’s next

Mendrick will need to win the Republican primary in order to advance to the general election for Illinois governor in November 2026.

The takeaway

Mendrick's background as a county sheriff could give him an advantage in the Republican primary by allowing him to focus his campaign on public safety and law enforcement issues that are important to many GOP voters.