Chief Deputy Ben Hallberg announces candidacy for Cook County Sheriff
Mar 23, 2026 01:36PM ● By Content Editor
Ben Hallberg (pictured second from right with his family) has officially announced his candidacy for Cook County Sheriff. Photo: Laura Muus Photography
By Laura Durenberger-Grunow - Boreal Community Media - March 23, 2026
Chief Deputy Ben Hallberg, who will soon serve as interim sheriff, has officially announced his candidacy for Cook County Sheriff in the 2026 election.
Hallberg, who has been a resident of Grand Marais for 23 years, has served with the Cook County Sheriff’s Office for over two decades. His career in local law enforcement began in 2004, initially working as a dispatcher and jailer. According to his campaign announcement, Hallberg later earned a law enforcement degree and served as a deputy for ten years before moving into administrative leadership.
His professional background includes tenures as jail administrator and dispatch supervisor. He currently serves as chief deputy under Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen. Hallberg shared that his professional experience is supplemented by a degree in elementary education, which he utilized during his time as a DARE officer within local schools.
In his announcement, Hallberg talked about what he describes as a need for internal operational knowledge. He stated that his current role involves overseeing day-to-day operations and maintaining regional partnerships with other northeastern Minnesota law enforcement agencies. According to Hallberg, "It takes years of hard work to understand how each part of our office works together."
Hallberg also indicated that public events and opportunities for community conversation will be scheduled in the coming months.
The announcement comes during a period of transition for the department. Current Sheriff Pat Eliasen announced in January 2026 that he would not seek reelection in the November election and would instead retire after 31 years of service in law enforcement. However, earlier this month, Sheriff Eliasen announced his resignation, effective May 8, 2026. Following Eliasen’s resignation announcement, Hallberg was appointed by the Cook County Commissioners to serve as the interim sheriff until a candidate is selected by voters in the November election.
Hallberg will be running against Cook County Deputy Ty Backlund, who announced his own campaign for the position in January 2026.
The candidate filing period is open between May 19 and June 2, 2026, Cook County Auditor’s Office Tax and Elections Administrator Cortnee Bernier told Boreal Community Media in January. According to the Minnesota Secretary of State website, candidates must meet specific Minnesota state requirements to qualify for the role, including but not limited to being a licensed peace officer and a county resident for at least 30 days prior to the election.
Read Ben Hallberg's full announcement here:
For the past 23 years I have called Grand Marais home. There is so much to love about living here – hiking, skiing and being outside surrounded by the beauty of our area. My family and I have built a life here that we love, and it’s been an honor to raise my two kids, Andrew and Ella, here with my wife Sarah, who grew up in Grand Marais. One of the things we love most about where we live is the people who also call this place home. And it’s been a privilege to serve this community for the past 21 years with the Sheriff’s Office.
In 2004, I started my career in law enforcement as a dispatcher/jailer. That work gave me purpose, and I had found my calling. I received my law enforcement degree to be able to work as a Deputy, employed in that role for 10 years. I later moved into the role as jail administrator, dispatch supervisor, and now as the Chief Deputy under our current Sheriff. In over two decades of service, one fact is for sure: it takes years of hard work to understand how each part of our office works together.
And now, after 21 years of working and learning about the intricacies of the job, I’m proud to announce that I am running to be the next Cook County Sheriff.
Being Sheriff isn’t about the title. It’s about serving the members of this community, and serving people has always been what is most important to me.
What many people may not know, is that my other college degree was in elementary education. That early background came full circle in my career when I was the DARE officer for our local schools. In that role, I got to work directly with students and their families. That experience was incredibly rewarding and taught me the importance of being an ally and trusted adult in the lives of our youth. It also showed me how important it is for law enforcement to take leading and visible roles within our community and be trusted by the people we serve.
The role of Sheriff requires a measured approach and a steady hand. It also requires tried and true leadership and an ability to take on a large amount of responsibility. In my current role as Chief Deputy, I am deeply involved in the day-to-day operations of the office, working closely with all staff members, and helping to make critical decisions that keep our office running smoothly. I have longstanding relationships with Sheriff’s offices and officials in the NE region, where I have a visible role in attending meetings and make collaborative decisions with those partners.
What we need in our next Sheriff is someone who understands where we’re been and where we’re going. We need experienced leadership that is prepared to take on the challenges that matter most to our community.
But this role isn’t just about me, it’s about you, and I want to hear from you. Soon, there will be opportunities for us to connect and have honest conversations about what matters most to you, and I look forward to that.
I hope that my experience and commitment to be the next Cook County Sheriff speaks for itself, and I would be honored to get your vote.
Ben"
