County Sheriff
August 4, 2026 · Clark County, Washington · County · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Low · 21 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 516,959 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(2,287,171 ÷ 516,959) ÷ ln(2,287,171 ÷ 2,353) = 21.62, comparing counties in WA (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: None · only 1 candidate
One candidate is running unopposed, so votes can't change the outcome.
Low representation + an uncontested race → Very low vote impact.
Sheriff is responsible for:
- Running the county's law-enforcement department, including deputies and patrols
- Running the county jail
- Serving court orders, such as evictions and warrants
- Providing courthouse security in many counties
Affected Areas: Immigration, Public Safety and Crime Control, Gun Control, Data Privacy, Civil Rights
Candidates
John Horch
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
John Horch is the Clark County Sheriff, elected in 2022 after a career with the Sheriff's Office that began in 1989. His earlier roles included chief enforcement deputy, drug-task-force commander, major-crimes investigator, internal-affairs supervisor, bomb technician, detective, and patrol deputy.
Records: Public Safety and Crime Control 7 for
Election sources
Source: voter.votewa.gov
Source: www2.sos.wa.gov