County Sheriff
November 3, 2026 · Hennepin County, Minnesota · County · general
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 · 0 out of 100
This district is large for its type, so each vote is a smaller slice of the outcome. About 1,269,496 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(1,269,496 ÷ 1,269,496) ÷ ln(1,269,496 ÷ 3,243) = 0, comparing counties in MN (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Low representation + unknown decisiveness → Below average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
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
Dawanna Witt
Nonpartisan · Incumbent · declared
Dawanna S. Witt is the elected Hennepin County Sheriff. She was elected in 2022 and sworn in on January 3, 2023; the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office describes her as the first woman and person of color to hold the office.
Records: Gun Control 1 for
Joseph Banks
Nonpartisan · declared
Joseph Banks is a candidate for Hennepin County Sheriff. His campaign biography describes more than 20 years in law enforcement, including service as police chief for the Upper Sioux Police Department and Morton, Minnesota.
Election sources
Source: hennepincounty.gov
Source: candidates.sos.mn.gov