Democrat Patrick Jones Defeats Jim Reilly To Become Will County's Next Sheriff: NYT

JOLIET, IL — Democratic candidate Patrick Jones was projected to win with a large lead over Republican Jim Reilly to become the next Will County Sheriff, according to the New York Times and unofficial vote totals.

Here are the unofficial vote totals, according to the Will County Clerk's website, with 100 percent of precincts counted as of 10 p.m.

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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 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.

Sgt. Jones had 59 percent of the Democratic primary vote, compared to Jungles at 40 percent. 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.

In 2022, Reilly was ahead against Kelley in the last general election on election night, only to lose after all the mail-in ballots were counted afterward.

According to the candidate website for Patrick 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 Will County had Reilly with 289 more votes than two-term Democrat incumbent, Sheriff Mike Kelley.

The voters had to determine whether Kelley should serve another four years as the Will County Sheriff. And for the second time in four years, Kelley was being challenged by one of his road patrol deputies, Reilly, the Republican.

During an interview in October 2022, Reilly remarked, "When you look at the Safe-T Act, there's so much misinformation. You have Governor Pritzker out saying this is a good bill, even though they understand that changes have to be made.

Under the Safe-T-Act, "we're going to release currently incarcerated violent offenders and law enforcement will be undermined, and law enforcement will be unable to hold violent offenders in our jail and these are the results of what liberal policies are doing," Reilly continued. "All we've got to do is look at Chicago and see violent crimes are significantly increasing, so for our current, Sheriff Mike Kelley, to not speak out publicly against this bill and to not join the lawsuit filed by (State's Attorney) Jim Glasgow, is going to risk the safety of our communities and the safety of our law enforcement officers.

"This is not acceptable for the No. 1 law enforcement officer in the county to not support the people that work for him and the people that live in our communities."

Election results are unofficial until certified by election authorities.