IFN Staff

Iredell County Sheriff Darren Campbell announced this week that he will seek a fourth term in office.

Campbell filed his campaign paperwork with the Iredell County Board of Elections on Monday. The decision to run again in 2026, which came after careful consideration, was a result of his commitment to the safety and security of our community, Campbell, a Republican, said in his campaign announcement.

The Sheriff’s Office has reported a significant drop in crime since Campbell was first elected sheriff in 2014.

Campbell touted the department’s focus on career and repeat offenders as well as efforts to strengthen partnerships throughout the county while prioritizing school safety.

During his third term, Campbell has continued to advocate for higher starting salaries for ICSO deputies as well as pay incentives for education and law enforcement certifications. He has also increased the total number of school resource officers deployed to local schools. 

The Sheriff’s Office recently took delivery of a new $1.1 million mobile command center, which was paid for with a $1 million appropriation from the N.C. General Assembly and a $100,000 local allocation approved by the Iredell County Board of Commissioners. That purchase came a few years after the Sheriff’s Office added a 27-foot cabin boat to the Lake Patrol Unit. 

Despite those investments in people and equipment, there is still more work to be done to ensure Iredell County remains one of the safest places to live, work, and raise a family, Campbell said.

“I am honored to serve alongside the best men and women of the Iredell County Sheriff’s Office,” he said. “Their dedication is unmatched, and together we are privileged to serve some of the finest citizens in the State of North Carolina.”

Campbell also served as president of the N.C. Sheriffs’ Association in 2023-2024.