{"biography":"Garry L. McFadden is the incumbent Sheriff of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, and is seeking a third term in the November\u202f3,\u202f2026 general election. He assumed office on December\u202f4,\u202f2018, and his current term is set to end on December\u202f7,\u202f2026; the office of sheriff in Mecklenburg County oversees the county jail, court security, and a range of law\u2011enforcement duties within the jurisdiction\u202f[9][1].\n\nMcFadden was born in Sumter, South\u202fCarolina, grew up in Elliott, and graduated from Mt\u202fPleasant High School. He moved to Charlotte in 1977 to attend Johnson C.\u202fSmith University, where he earned his degree\u202f[3]. He then embarked on a 36\u2011year career with the Charlotte\u2011Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), spending more than two decades as a homicide detective and achieving one of the highest murder\u2011case solve rates in the department\u2019s history\u202f[3]. His investigative work led to a television series, \u201cI\u202fAm\u202fHomicide,\u201d and later appearances on Investigation Discovery\u2019s \u201cHomicide City\u201d\u202f[3][9].\n\nIn 2018 McFadden ran for sheriff on a platform that promised to end the county\u2019s participation in the federal 287(g) immigration partnership and to refuse ICE detainers, a stance that earned national attention\u202f[9]. He was sworn in as the 45th sheriff on December\u202f4,\u202f2018 and was re\u2011elected without opposition in the 2022 general election, receiving 100\u202f% of the vote\u202f[1].\n\nDuring his tenure McFadden has launched several community\u2011focused initiatives. He created the \u201cCops and Barbers\u201d program, which earned recognition from the Obama administration for building trust between police and residents\u202f[3][9]. He also instituted a recording\u2011studio program for inmates, expanded a traffic\u2011enforcement unit, and promoted rehabilitation\u2011oriented policies within the jail\u202f[12]. His public service has been honored with awards from organizations such as Omega Psi Phi, the NAACP, and he was named Charlotte\u2019s Citizen of the Year in 2015\u202f[3].\n\nMcFadden\u2019s time in office has been marked by significant controversy. An ongoing State Bureau of Investigation inquiry examines alleged misconduct, and the sheriff\u2019s office has faced multiple lawsuits, including challenges over concealed\u2011handgun permit processing and a series of deaths at the county detention center\u202f[6][5][12]. Former chief deputies have publicly accused him of creating a \u201ctoxic and abusive work environment,\u201d and a petition filed by five voters\u2014including state Rep.\u202fCarla\u202fCunningham and former chief deputy Kevin\u202fCanty\u2014sought his removal on grounds of attempted extortion, corruption, and willful misconduct\u202f[6][7][11]. A Superior Court judge dismissed the petition for lack of jurisdiction, noting that the district attorney and county attorney had not approved it\u202f[11].\n\nDespite these headwinds, McFadden won the March\u202f3,\u202f2026 Democratic primary with 33.8\u202f% of the vote (33,422 votes), defeating three challengers\u2014Ricky\u202fRobbins, Rodney\u202fCollins, and Antwain\u202fNance\u2014in a four\u2011way race\u202f[1][5][12]. No Republican candidates filed for the office, so his primary victory secured his place on the November ballot\u202f[1][5]. He has emphasized continued jail reforms, community outreach, and the expansion of successful programs as priorities for his next term\u202f[12].\n\n## Sources\n- [1] [Garry McFadden - Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Garry_McFadden)\n- [3] [Sheriff Garry McFadden](https://mcsheriffs.com/biographies/sheriff-garry-mcfadden)\n- [5] [Sheriff Garry McFadden reelected as Mecklenburg County sheriff in 2026 primary](https://www.wbtv.com/2026/03/04/sheriff-garry-mcfadden-reelected-mecklenburg-county-sheriff-2026-primary/)\n- [6] [Mecklenburg Sheriff McFadden wins primary, re-election](https://www.carolinajournal.com/mecklenburg-sheriff-mcfadden-wins-primary-re-election/)\n- [7] [The petition to remove Sheriff Garry McFadden: How does it work and what comes next? | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source](https://www.wfae.org/politics/2026-01-06/the-petition-to-remove-sheriff-garry-mcfadden-how-does-it-work-and-what-comes-next)\n- [8] [Garry McFadden wins Mecklenburg County sheriff\u2019s race](https://www.wsoctv.com/news/local/charlottes-sheriff-race-draws-big-crowds-polling-locations/MYM7KEOU65GMZECJIOWJ7L4GZE/)\n- [9] [Charlotte\u2019s Sheriff Garry McFadden has a history of taking on ICE in North Carolina | CNN](https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/22/us/garry-mcfadden-charlotte-sheriff-ice)\n- [11] [Judge dismisses petition to remove Mecklenburg sheriff from office](https://www.carolinajournal.com/judge-dismisses-petition-to-remove-mecklenburg-sheriff-from-office/)\n- [12] [Mecklenburg County Sheriff McFadden narrowly wins 4-way contest | WFAE 90.7 - Charlotte's NPR News Source](https://www.wfae.org/politics/2026-03-03/mecklenburg-county-sheriff-mcfadden-holds-narrow-lead-in-4-way-contest)","campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Mecklenburg County Sheriff"},{"contest":"county_sheriff","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"Tue, 03 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT","pgr":"general","state":"NC","title":"Mecklenburg County Sheriff"}],"cf_filings":[],"firstname":"Garry","fullname":"Garry Leonard Mcfadden","lastname":"Mcfadden","middlename":"Leonard","office_history":[{"campaigns":[{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Mecklenburg County Sheriff","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-11-03","office_county":"mecklenburg","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"},{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Mecklenburg County Sheriff","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"mecklenburg","office_key":"county_sheriff","office_title":"Sheriff","party":"DEM","pgr":"general","state":"NC"}],"county":"mecklenburg","cycles":[{"general":{"contest":"county_sheriff","contest_title":"Mecklenburg County Sheriff","county":"mecklenburg","county_count":1,"electiondate":"2026-03-03","office_county":"mecklenburg","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":[]}],"summary":"Incumbent Sheriff Garry McFadden of Mecklenburg County, NC, is running for re\u2011election in 2026 after a tenure marked by community programs and ongoing controversies.","terms":[],"token":"759ab81f1b5f9d35"}