Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko announced he is seeking re-election to the position of Dakota County
Sheriff in the 2026 election in November. Leko was first sworn in as Dakota County’s 21st Sheriff in 2023, after being in the Sheriff’s Office for more than two decades, holding positions including court and transport deputy, school resource officer, parks, lakes, and trails deputy, drug and gang investigator, patrol supervisor, commander of the Dakota County Drug Task Force, captain in both patrol and the jail, and chief deputy for eight years under Sheriff Tim Leslie.
Leko said in a press release:
“I am honored to serve as Sheriff in the county I have called home my entire life. This community isn’t just where I work—it’s where I’ve built my life, where my family and friends call home, and protecting it is deeply personal to me. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together, but I know there is more work ahead. I remain committed to earning the trust of our residents every day by leading with integrity, accountability, and a focus on keeping Dakota County safe. Thank you for entrusting me with this great responsibility and for your continued support. I invite you to join me in our ongoing efforts to keep Dakota County a safe and thriving community— today and for generations to come. For these reasons and many more, I am proud to announce my candidacy for re-election.”
Official candidate filing for the 2026 Sheriff race in Dakota County opens on May 19, 2026, and runs until June 2, 2026.