Mecklenburg County Sheriff Garry McFadden held onto a narrow lead in his race for a third term in Tuesday’s Mecklenburg County Democratic primary, beating out three challengers to retain his office.
McFadden pulled off his reelection despite facing significant headwinds. During his time in office, McFadden has faced numerous controversies, including an ongoing State Bureau of Investigation inquiry, almost two dozen jail deaths in recent years and allegations of workplace misconduct from some of his own former chief deputies.
Still, he says he has delivered on his promises and produced results for the county, including jail reforms and a focus on rehabilitation over punishment.
"Sure, we're going to have issues that other sheriff's offices have, but what about talking about the good we have done and the good we're going to do?" McFadden told WFAE.
A former homicide detective with a reality TV show called "I Am Homicide," McFadden created programs like a recording studio in the county jail so inmates can make music, and a traffic enforcement unit that expanded the Sheriff's Office role in law enforcement outside the jail and courthouse.
The sheriff also picked up the key endorsement of the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg. And it appeared his opponents — three former law enforcement officials with similar background and campaign messages — split the vote against McFadden, who ended up winning with only around a third of ballots cast.
"We fight about small things and we criticize all what the sheriff's office does, but what about supporting the sheriff's office for once?" McFadden said. "So that's what I'm going to ask the people to do. Not ridicule us for every small thing."
McFadden has served as sheriff since 2018. He won Tuesday’s race with 33.79% of the vote. He beat retired CMPD Sgt. Ricky Robbins (31.04%) and retired Chief Deputy Rodney Collins (26.82%). Antwain Nance, a detention officer, came in fourth with 8.35%
There are no Republican candidates in the race. McFadden will begin his new term in December.
