Illinois › Winnebago County › Winnebago County Sheriff
2 candidates are tracked for Winnebago County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Gary Caruana and Dominick Barcellona. Candidate information follows official Winnebago County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.
Republican incumbent Gary Caruana, seeking a fourth term, and independent candidate Dominick Barcellona, a retired Winnebago County Sheriff's Office deputy chief, appear on the ballot; no Democrat filed. Source: Winnebago County Clerk's official November 3, 2026 candidate list.
Gary Caruana has served as Winnebago County Sheriff since 2014 (12 years) after 8 years as a sheriff's deputy, and previously spent 26 years at United Parcel Service in security and operations leadership, per Gary Caruana campaign site.
2026 priorities (per the caruanaforsheriff.com)
- Community policing and community engagement
- Technology modernization, including body-worn cameras and a new records management system
- Employee wellness and career development programs
Source: candidate campaign site.
Campaign site →
Dominick Barcellona spent nearly 30 years with the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, working in corrections, patrol and SWAT before retiring in 2023 at the rank of deputy chief, per Dominick Barcellona campaign site.
2026 priorities (per the dombarcellonaforsheriff.com)
- Strategic planning and specialized unit development
- Leadership and personnel training
- Community-focused, proactive crime reduction
Source: candidate campaign site.
Campaign site →
