{"biography":"Bobby Franklin Kimbrough\u202fJr. is the incumbent Sheriff of Forsyth County, North\u202fCarolina, and is seeking a third term in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election as the Democratic candidate\u30101\u3011. The Forsyth County Sheriff serves as the chief law\u2011enforcement officer for the county, overseeing the county jail, providing security for the district and superior courts, serving civil process, and directing patrol, investigations and community\u2011safety initiatives.\n\nKimbrough was born and raised in Forsyth County and graduated from North\u202fForsyth High School\u30109\u3011. He began his public\u2011safety career in 1984 as a police officer with the Winston\u2011Salem Police Department\u30109\u3011. He later became an arson investigator and assistant fire marshal for the Winston\u2011Salem Fire Department in 1987, and in 1989 joined the North\u202fCarolina Department of Probation and Parole working with high\u2011risk offenders\u30106\u3011. From 1995 until 2016 he served as a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, including assignments with the agency\u2019s Foreign Operations Group throughout the Caribbean\u30106\u3011.  \n\nIn 2018 Kimbrough entered the political arena, defeating longtime incumbent Sheriff Bill\u202fSchatzman in the November\u202f6,\u202f2018 general election with 53.5% of the vote after winning the Democratic primary against Tim\u202fWooten and Clif\u202fKilby\u30101\u3011. He was sworn in as Forsyth County\u2019s first African\u2011American sheriff on December\u202f3,\u202f2018\u30106\u3011. He was re\u2011elected in 2022, defeating Republican Ernie\u202fLeyba with 66% of the vote\u30101\u3011.  \n\nDuring his tenure Kimbrough has navigated the challenges of the COVID\u201119 pandemic, community\u2011policing reforms, and rising gang activity, often emphasizing the need for resources and community engagement\u301012\u3011. In recognition of his public\u2011service contributions, Governor Josh\u202fStein inducted him into the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North\u202fCarolina\u2019s highest civilian honor\u30107\u3011.  \n\nIn 2025 Governor Stein appointed Sheriff Kimbrough to the state\u2019s Crime Commission, a body of more than 40 members that advises on crime\u2011reduction strategies, officer recruitment, violence\u2011intervention programs and re\u2011entry barriers for formerly incarcerated individuals\u30108\u3011.  \n\nKimbrough\u2019s platform for the 2026 race focuses on continued investment in public safety resources, expanding community\u2011based violence\u2011intervention, improving recruitment and retention of law\u2011enforcement personnel, and enhancing school security measures. He stresses that budgeting reflects community values and seeks to allocate sufficient funds to protect children, educators and all residents of Forsyth County\u301012\u3011.  \n\nIf re\u2011elected, Kimbrough will complete a term that ends on December\u202f7,\u202f2026, having served two full terms and seeking a third to continue his work as the county\u2019s chief law\u2011enforcement officer\u30101\u3011.\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Bobby Kimbrough - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Bobby_Kimbrough)\n- [6] [Forsyth.cc - Bobby Kimbrough sworn in as new Forsyth County sheriff](https://www.co.forsyth.nc.us/article.aspx?NewsID=23721)\n- [7] [Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough receives North Carolina's highest honor](https://www.wxii12.com/article/forsyth-county-sheriff-bobby-kimbrough-honored-order-of-the-long-leaf-pine/65262884)\n- [8] [Forsyth County Sheriff Kimbrough appointed to Governor's Crime Commission](https://www.wfdd.org/story/forsyth-county-sheriff-kimbrough-appointed-governors-crime-commission)\n- [9] [Bobby Kimbrough wins seat for Forsyth County sheriff](https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/politics/elections/forsyth-county-sheriff-bobby-kimbrough-seat-race/83-72275719-d34d-4543-bc9b-cc804feb3a05)\n- [12] [Catching Up With Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough - Triad Today](https://triadtoday.com/2025/02/catching-up-with-bobby-kimbrough/)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Forsyth County Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Bobby","fullname":"Bobby Franklin Kimbrough JR","lastname":"Kimbrough","middlename":"Franklin","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Forsyth County Sheriff","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"forsyth","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"forsyth","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Forsyth County Sheriff","county":"forsyth","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"forsyth","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},"party":"DEM","primary":null,"term":null,"year":2026}],"office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","state":"NC","terms":[]}],"suffix":"JR","summary":"Bobby Kimbrough, the first Black sheriff of Forsyth County, NC, is running for re\u2011election in 2026 after two terms marked by pandemic response, a state honor, and a crime\u2011commission appointment.","terms":[],"token":"41b0c34c5b090bd0"}