St. Joseph County, Indiana

St. Joseph County Sheriff

2 candidates are tracked for St. Joseph County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Scott Ruszkowski and Rod Laureys. Candidate information follows official St. Joseph County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Scott Ruszkowski (Democratic), Rod Laureys (Republican) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for St. Joseph County Sheriff, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list (updated August 27, 2026).

What this office does

Sheriff. The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement agency, operates the county jail, provides courthouse security and serves court papers such as warrants, subpoenas and evictions. In many counties the sheriff's office is the primary police force for areas outside city limits. The sheriff hires deputies and manages the office's budget within what the county board approves.

This race. Every voter in St. Joseph County votes on this seat.

Indiana › St. Joseph County › St. Joseph County Sheriff

Scott Ruszkowski

Democratic

Top priorities

Making people the department's top priority
Building community partnerships across public safety agencies

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Scott Ruszkowski currently serves as South Bend Police Chief, a position he has held for 11 years after joining the South Bend Police Department in 1988 and advancing through patrol, K9, SWAT, and Street Crimes units, per the campaign site. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and an FBI National Academy honors graduate, per the campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)Full profile for Scott Ruszkowski

Rod Laureys

Republican

Biography

A former South Bend Police officer and military veteran, per WSBT, "SB Police Chief wins Democratic nomination for sheriff; faces Republican Rod Laureys". No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Full profile for Rod Laureys

Next on your ballotSt. Joseph County Assessor

See your full ballot

Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for St. Joseph County Sheriff in 2026?

When is the St. Joseph County Sheriff election in Indiana?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Indiana are on the Indiana election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact St. Joseph County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Sources

Verify this race
Candidate roster from official St. Joseph County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.
Cross-check with the official Indiana election office, or see the full St. Joseph County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your St. Joseph County ballot

17 tracked races in St. Joseph County, Indiana. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

St. Joseph County Commissioner, District 1 St. Joseph County Council, District A St. Joseph County Council, District B See all 17 St. Joseph County races Official Indiana election office