Deschutes County sheriff’s Lt. James ‘Mac’ McLaughlin files to run for sheriff against interim Sheriff Ty Rupert

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The race to be the next Deschutes County sheriff will have at least two candidates in the May primary election, as sheriff's Lieutenant James "Mac" McLaughlin filed to run for the position Monday afternoon, county Clerk Steve Dennison told KTVZ News.

Shortly after that confirmation, KTVZ News received a news release from the McLaughlin, along with a link to his campaign website.

We have reached out to Rupert for any comment. He was appointed last July to the interim post by Deschutes County commissioners and sworn into office in the wake of embattled Sheriff Kent van der Kamp's departure.

McLaughlin said in his news release that he had told his colleagues at a forum last year that he would be running for the position this year, no matter who commissioners chose for the interim role.

McLaughlin and Rupert are the only candidates to file for the position so far. The filing deadline is March 10.

If a third (or more) candidate files, the top two vote-getters would advance to the November general election ballot, Dennison said, sharing a list of other county races (PDF), including county commissioner, with similar election rules.

Here's McLaughlin's news release:

James “Mac” McLaughlin Announces Run for Deschutes County Sheriff

Lt. McLaughlin comes out of the gate with broad internal support from within the Sheriff’s Office

Bend, OR – Lt. James “Mac” McLaughlin today officially filed with the Deschutes County Clerk’s Office to run for Sheriff. His campaign and election to the Office of Sheriff would mark the culmination of a lifetime of service to his country and community.

Lt. McLaughlin has served in the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office for over 18 years where he currently oversees and supervises all Detectives and Detective Sergeants. He is the Commander of the SWAT Team, as well as part of the Peer Support team. He is a proud United States Marine Corps veteran. Lt. McLaughlin served in the First Force Reconnaissance Company where he was decorated for leadership, received meritorious promotions, and was honorably discharged.

“This campaign for Sheriff will not be about me,” said Lt. McLaughlin. This campaign will be about what is in the best interest of public safety for our community, and ensuring the men and women who provide that safety are treated with dignity and respect.”

Lt. McLaughlin already has robust internal support from members of the Sheriff’s Office. During the Sheriff appointment process in July of 2025, the members of the Deschutes County Sheriff Employees Association (DCSEA) overwhelmingly voted to recommend Lt. McLaughlin for the interim Sheriff appointment.

In a vote among five separate candidates, Lt. McLaughlin received a clear majority of support from DCSEA members, garnering greater than 56% of the vote. The majority vote of the membership – even after splitting it five ways – stands as the strongest marker of institutional support so far in this campaign. The members of the DCSEA make up over two-thirds of the total employees at the Sheriff’s Office, and serve a role in all aspects of public safety within Deschutes County.

“I am honored and humbled at the showing of support from the DCSEA membership during the appointment process, said Lt McLaughlin. “The DCSEA represents all sectors of the Sheriff’s Office – Corrections and Patrol, sworn and non-sworn. I am grateful they gave the interested candidates last July an opportunity to address them and seek their support.”

Ty Rupert came in a distant second-place in the voting, with only 29%. Undersheriff Aaron Wells, Ret. Lt. Deron McMaster, and COCC Director Cory Darling rounded out the rest of the vote with 6.7%, 5.4%, and 2.7%, respectively.

Despite being unable to garner even one-third of DCSEA membership support, Deschutes County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Patti Adair and Tony DeBone opted to appoint Rupert as the interim Sheriff. Commissioner Phil Chang abstained from the vote.

Lt. McLaughlin is holding true to the promise he made at the DCSEA forum last July, where he stated regardless of who the BOCC selected as interim Sheriff, he planned to mount an official campaign for Sheriff in 2026.

“The community needs to be able to trust its Sheriff to tell the truth and to fulfill promises,” said Lt. McLaughlin. “It needs a leader that doesn’t have a 100-day plan, but a 1,000-day vision. My entire career is marked by successful leadership endeavors, and it will be an honor to serve everyone within Deschutes County as your Sheriff.”

Lt. McLaughlin lives outside of Redmond with his wife, Torrey, and their children.