Cook County election filing nears deadline, commissioner races take shape

Kalli Hawkins | June 2, 2026

With election season on the horizon, the filing period for federal, state, and county offices is underway, giving prospective candidates the opportunity to secure a place on the ballot.

Candidates seeking a spot on the ballot have until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 2, to file. The filing period opened on May 19.

In Cook County, three county commissioner seats in Districts 1, 3, and 5 are up for election this year. Two seats on the Soil and Water Conservation District Board, representing Districts 2 and 4, will also appear on the ballot. The Cook County Sheriff’s seat is also on the ballot this year. In January, Sheriff Pat Eliasen’s announced that he would not seek re-election and planned to retire.

The candidates who filed for those races as of June 1 are as follows:

County Board of Commissioners

District 1: Deb White (incumbent), Matt Kelm, Christine Childs
District 3: David Mills (incumbent), Roger Westerlind
District 5: Chris Homyak, Bruce Martinson

*Commissioner Ginny Storlie will not be running for re-election. (Listen to an interview with Commissioner Storlie below)

Soil and Water Conservation District Board

District 2: Stan Tull (incumbent)
District 4: Gail Gieseke (incumbent)

Cook County Sheriff

Ty Backlund
Ben Hallberg

Cook County Attorney

Jeanne Peterson

Cook County Auditor/Treasurer

Braidy Powers

Although the filing deadline ends at 5 p.m. on June 2, prospective candidates may still opt to run a write-in campaign.

Seats for the city, North Shore Hospital Board, and ISD 166 school board will also be on the ballot this year, though the candidate filing period for those offices will be later in July. The filing period will begin July 14 and run through July 28.

As election season nears, Cook County is actively recruiting election judges. In a news release, the county said, “Election judges play a vital role in administering elections and supporting voters at polling places across the community.”

Minnesota law requires a balance of election judges between the major political parties. The county said at this time, there is a “greater need for election judges affiliated with the Republican Party.”

Polling place election judges are needed for either or both of the state primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026, or the state general election on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. Judges will be paid $18 per hour, and positions are not eligible for benefits.

Contact Cook County election officials at the Cook County Courthouse for additional information.

The state primary, will include races for statewide offices, such as US House of Representatives District 8 and State House District 3A.

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins sat down with District 5 Commissioner Ginny Storlie ahead of the filing deadline to talk about her decision not to run for re-election this year and insights into the roles, responsibilities, and day-to-day operations of being a Cook County Commissioner. Audio from the interview is below.