Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam announces 2026 re-election campaign

Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam announced his 2026 re-election bid Wednesday, Sept. 10, pledging to focus on safety and security.

Balaam was first elected in 2018, defeating retired sheriff’s captain Heidi Howe, and won re-election in 2022 after running unopposed. So far, no other candidates have entered the sheriff’s race for 2026.

“It has been the honor of my life to serve as your Washoe County Sheriff,” Balaam said in the release. “Over the past seven years, we’ve hired more deputies to meet our county’s growth, created new models for fighting trafficking and reducing recidivism and expanded treatment and mental health services for our employees and in our jail. But as fentanyl overdoses increase and crime trends shift nationwide, our mission is more urgent than ever. That is why I am asking for the community’s trust to continue this work.”

According to the release, Balaam said he is committed to expanding the sheriff’s office use of drone technology, artificial intelligence tools and automated license plate readers. He added that he plans to increase staffing to keep pace with the county’s population growth, expand job readiness programs for inmates and broaden mental health services.



https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2025/09/10/washoe-county-sheriff-darin-balaam-seeks-re-election-in-2026/86076708007/