County

Orange County Sheriff

Vote for: 1
Term: 4 years
Candidates: 2
Election: Nov 3, 2026

What this office does: The sheriff runs the county's law enforcement, jail and civil process divisions.

Candidates Compare by issue

Bernie Rivers

Democratic, Working Families

Retired director, NYS DEC Division of Law Enforcement

The gist

Opposes sheriff's lawsuit to expand local immigration enforcement.In office
Supports focusing the sheriff's office on local safety, jail.In office

In office = from the candidate's own official statements or legislation as an officeholder, not their campaign.

More about Bernie

View sources (1)

Opposes sheriff's lawsuit to expand local immigration enforcement.
Letter to the Editor: Orange County deserves a Sheriff focused on local priorities
Public statement · Mid-Hudson News · Aug 31, 2026 · midhudsonnews.com
“That is why I am concerned about Sheriff Paul Arteta’s decision to join a federal lawsuit challenging New York’s Local Cops, Local Crimes Act.”
Supports focusing the sheriff's office on local safety, jail.
Letter to the Editor: Orange County deserves a Sheriff focused on local priorities
Public statement · Mid-Hudson News · Aug 31, 2026 · midhudsonnews.com
“protecting our communities, providing exceptional service and operating a safe and secure County Jail”

Paul Arteta

Republican, ConservativeIncumbent

Orange County Sheriff

The gist

Opposes New York's ban on local ICE partnership agreements.
Opposes losing the jail's ICE housing contract revenue.

More about Paul

View sources (2)

Opposes New York's ban on local ICE partnership agreements.
15 N.Y. sheriffs, including Orange County’s Arteta, sue to block immigration law
News coverage · Mid-Hudson News · Aug 27, 2026 · midhudsonnews.com
“Fifteen New York county sheriffs, including Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta, have filed a federal lawsuit challenging a new state law”
Orange County Sheriff says Local Cops Local Crimes will cost county $10 million
News coverage · WAMC · Sep 16, 2026 · wamc.org
“Arteta said the state law, which went into effect Aug. 25, is robbing the county of millions of dollars.”
Opposes losing the jail's ICE housing contract revenue.
Orange County Sheriff says Local Cops Local Crimes will cost county $10 million
News coverage · WAMC · Sep 16, 2026 · wamc.org
“Today I have a $10 million hole in the Orange County budget”

Challengers are listed first and incumbents last; otherwise candidates appear in ballot order. The Gist does not rank, rate or endorse candidates. Only positions backed by a cited source are shown; 2 issues covered in this race.