Kittitas County, Washington

Kittitas County Sheriff

Kokjer and Chepoda are on the November 3, 2026 ballot. Names follow official Kittitas County election filings.

About this race

Ben Kokjer and Darryl Chepoda JR meet on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Kittitas County Sheriff, per the Secretary of State's VoteWA general-election candidate list.

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 Kittitas County votes on this seat.

We use AI to research and write election information. Errors are possible. Verify important details with official sources.

Washington › Kittitas County › Kittitas County Sheriff

Ben Kokjer

Republican

Top priorities

From other published sources

Maintain reliable public safety response across the county, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Mitigate traffic and other impacts of tourism and travel, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Effective crime fighting and thorough investigations, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Kokjer is Chief Deputy of Operations for the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office and has worked for the office for 21 years, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. He began as an Ellensburg Police Department reserve officer in 1999 and has led day-to-day operations since 2019, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Darryl Chepoda JR

Independent

Top priorities

From other published sources

Full and open transparency, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Constitutional rights, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide
Community engagement, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide

Biography

Chepoda is a fifth generation upper county resident who ranches and farms in the area, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide. His background includes federal and civil service consulting and contracting and work as a retired fire chief, per the statement filed for the Washington voters' guide.

Next on your ballotKittitas County Treasurer

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Voting info and more

Questions about this race

Who is running for Kittitas County Sheriff in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Kittitas County Sheriff on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Ben Kokjer and Darryl Chepoda JR. Candidate information follows official Kittitas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Kittitas County Sheriff election in Washington?

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

How do I see my exact Kittitas 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.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Kittitas County and state election office filings, last verified October 26, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Washington election office, or see the full Kittitas County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Kittitas County ballot

15 tracked races in Kittitas County, Washington. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot

Kittitas County Lower County District Court Judge Kittitas County Upper County District Court Judge Kittitas County PUD No. 1 Commissioner, District 1 See all 15 Kittitas County races

Candidate profiles

Ben Kokjer, full profile Darryl Chepoda JR, full profile Official Washington election office