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This fact brief was originally published as an experiment to test the concepts behind fact briefs.
Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of useful information in fact briefs like this one, not all of them reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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FACT BRIEF

Are many county sheriffs able to take openly partisan positions on the issues?

By Jacob Alabab-Moser
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YES

Since sheriffs occupy an elected post with dual local and state responsibility, they exercise independent decision-making with relatively few checks on their power. Such a position allows them to engage in partisan political activities more or less openly.

Although the Office of the Special Counsel notes that using authority as sheriff to influence elections is a violation of the Hatch Act, that hasn't stopped some sheriffs from talking politics.

Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County, Florida—a historically Republican area—has held his post since 2004. In December 2020, the Trump administration appointed Judd to the Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. In July 2020, Judd was reelected to his seat as sheriff when nobody ran against him. “It appears that you are stuck with me for a little while longer,” his newsletter read. Judd is up for reelection in 2024.

This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
NPR When sheriffs won't enforce the law
The Appeal The power of sheriffs: Explained
US Office of Special Counsel Elected sheriffs campaigning in uniform
News Break Election shows Polk County is still deeply red
Polk County Sheriff About Sheriff Grady Judd
FOX 13 Tampa Bay Sheriff Grady Judd appointed to Trump administration council
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Gigafact
Between 2020 and 2022, under close editorial supervision, Gigafact contracted a group of freelance writers and editors to test the concepts for fact briefs and provide inputs to our software development process. We call this effort Gigafact Foundry. Over the course of these two years, Gigafact Foundry writers published over 1500 fact briefs in response to claims they found online. Their important work forms the basis of Gigafact formats and editorial guidelines, and is available to the public on Gigafact.org. Readers should be aware that while there is still a lot of relevant information to be found, not all fact briefs produced by Gigafact Foundry reflect Gigafact's current methods and standards for fact briefs. If you come across any that you feel are out of date and need to be looked at with fresh eyes, don't hesitate to contact us at support@gigafact.org.
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About fact briefs published on Gigafact
Fact briefs are short, credibly sourced summaries that offer “yes/no” answers in response to claims found online. They rely on publicly available, often primary source data and documents. Fact briefs are created by contributors to Gigafact —a nonprofit project looking to expand participation in fact-checking and protect the democratic process. See all fact briefs here.