Voters Will Elect New Sheriff For First Time In Years: Jones V. Reilly In 2026 Will County Election

JOLIET, IL — For the first time in 12 years, there will be a new sheriff for Will County but who that will be has to be determined by tens of thousands of voters on Tuesday. The voters have to choose between Democratic traffic patrol sergeant Patrick Jones and Republican road patrol deputy Jim Reilly.

Back in the spring, Democrat and three-term Will County Sheriff Mike Kelley urged the voters of Will County to follow his recommendation and make his newly appointed Undersheriff Dan Jungles the next sheriff. The majority of the voters in the Democratic Party ignored Kelley's endorsement and decided it was time to bring an end to the Kelley administration. In March, Sgt. Jones had 59 percent of the Democratic primary vote, compared to Jungles at 40 percent.

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In February 2025, Jones had announced his candidacy for Will County Sheriff and plans to compete against Jungles.

"I currently have 24 years of experience between the jail and being a police officer with the Will County Sheriff's Office," Jones announced in his introductory YouTube video. "I hold the rank of sergeant, patrol division, right now. The reason for me running is that I believe that the squad car has become a barrier to the community, and we need more interaction with the community. I want to build trust through transparency."

Reilly faced minimal competition in the March Republican primary and easily captured the GOP nomination. Reilly is making his third bid to become the sheriff as a Republican.

While Reilly may have better name recognition in the Will County Sheriff's race, Jones is running as a Democrat in a state that votes overwhelmingly Democrat. Furthermore, many of the national polling data suggests Democratic voters have strong momentum on their side because of growing frustration toward the second term performance of President Donald Trump,thanks to high gasoline and food prices.

According to the candidate website for Jones, "I have dedicated my life to serving and protecting the people of Will County. My journey into law enforcement began with a promise I made to myself as a child. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, my brother and I experienced a painful encounter with the police when we were just 10 and 11 years old. As we were walking home from church, we were stopped and ordered to open our pants as they shined flashlights inside. When my brother asked why we were being searched, the officer slapped him on the head.

"That moment, when we were treated unfairly and without dignity, left a lasting mark on me. I asked God that if I were ever placed in a position of authority, I would serve differently — with integrity, fairness, and compassion. That promise has guided me every single day of my career.

"Will County has been my home for the last 26 years, and in 2001 I began my career with the Sheriff's Office as a correctional officer. A year later, I joined the Emergency Response Team, where I learned to handle high-pressure situations with discipline and skill. My lifelong goal of becoming a police officer pushed me further, and in 2009 I graduated from the Illinois State Police Academy. Over the years, I have worked a variety of assignments, including midnight shifts in different areas of the county. After working as patrol deputy for nine years, in 2018 I became a Crime Scene Investigator and completed several courses at Northwestern University. Each assignment gave me new skills, new challenges, and a deeper connection to the community I serve.

"In 2012, I became a SWAT tactical operator, completing both basic and advanced SWAT training, as well as sniper. Today, I am honored to serve as an Assistant Team Leader on the Crisis Negotiation Team, where I've seen firsthand how the power of words can prevent tragedy and save lives."

Jones pointed out that he achieved the rank of sergeant in 2019 "which marked a turning point in my career. As a leader, I have overseen teams on some of the most difficult and dangerous calls this office has faced. Leadership is not just about command; it is about protecting those who serve under you, ensuring they have the tools, training, and support they need to succeed, and making sure they return home safely to their families. I take that responsibility with the utmost seriousness."

Four years ago, in November 2022, Republican sheriff's deputy Jim Reilly predicted he would become the next sheriff of Will County after unofficial vote totals for had Reilly with 289 more votes than two-term Democrat incumbent, Sheriff Mike Kelley.

Four years beforehand, in 2018, the Republican Will County Sheriff's deputy lost by 39,264 votes in the general election.

After Will County reached 100 percent of all precincts reporting in November 2022, Reilly told Joliet Patch that he wanted to congratulate Sheriff Mike Kelley on a fine career at the sheriff's office. Kelley has been with the agency since the late 1980s.

As for voting results, "I could not be happier," Reilly said. "I would like to thank the voters of Will County for their support and confidence in my campaign. Me and my new administration team are excited to work hard and gain the trust of the people. It was a long hard-fought race.

"He's lost the faith of the department and the law enforcement community throughout Will County," Reilly has told Joliet Patch. "I am very optimistic that we will be victorious in November. Mike Kelley has never publicly come out against (police reform) House Bill 3653. He's not around. We need a full-time sheriff who is engaged with our department and our communities. He's a part-time sheriff."

However, although Reilly was ahead against Kelley in the last general election on election night, he ultimately lost after all the mail-in and absentee ballots were counted afterward.