Experience over expectations. That proved to be the prevailing thought process among Jackson Parish voters as they made their choices in the races for Jackson Parish Sheriff and Clerk of Court in Saturday’s elections. Voters also ensured that the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office would be fully funded by renewing the Law Enforcement District Millage for the next 10 years.
Jackson Parish Sheriff Election
After being appointed interim Sheriff in November 2025, Brent Barnett clearly gained the confidence of Jackson Parish residents, garnering 2,250 votes (46.83%) across the 31 parish precincts to be the top vote-getter among the five candidates for the office. Jonesboro Police Chief Israel Smith captured 17.73% of the ballots to outpoll local law enforcement veteran Cody Cheatwood (15.96%) by a 852 – 767 margin to earn a position in the run-off that will be held on June 27th. Jason Robinson claimed 687 votes (14.30%), and Jesse Magee was named on 249 ballots (5.18%) of the 4,805 votes cast parishwide, which represented roughly 30% of the total population in Jackson Parish.
Jackson Parish Clerk of Court Election
In the two-person race for Jackson Parish Clerk of Court, Rachel Shively, a veteran of the office who was interimly appointed to the position at the end of 2025, collected 3,180 votes to win the election over political newcomer Megan Rowe Harrell, who got 1,457 votes, by a 68.58% – 31.42% margin.
Law Enforcement District Millage Renewal Election
In the proposition to renew the Parishwide Law Enforcement District Millage for the next 10 years, Jackson Parish voters gave their approval by a 58.82% to 41.18% margin, giving 2,708 YES votes to 1,896 NO votes.
U.S. Senate Election
In the United States Senate race, Jackson Parish voters fell in line with those in the state of Louisiana by opting for Democrat “Jamie” Davis, who gained 163,507 (47.43%) votes statewide and Republican Julia Letlow, who claimed 179,876 ballots (44.8%) with all 3722 precincts reporting in the closed primary elections. Davis earned the Democratic nomination, while Letlow and John Fleming (28.3%) will now battle in a run-off for the Republican nomination.
Constitutional Amendments Referendums
In final voting concerns, all five Constitutional Amendments that were put forth to be approved were denied soundly as shown below.
CA No. 1 (ACT No. 223, 2025-RS – SB 8) — To authorize the addition or removal of positions in the unclassified state civil service by law (NO – 630,337, YES – 173,487)
CA No. 2 (ACT No. 218, 2025-RS – SB 25) — To grant St. George community school system the authority to operate a school system (NO 511,787, YES – 287,614)
CA No. 3 (ACT No. 222, 2025-RS – HB 473) — To fund a teacher pay raise by paying down debt of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana (NO – 470,837, YES – 340,362)
CA No. 4 (ACT No. 221, 2025-RS – HB 366) — To provide authority for a parish to classify and authorize exemptions relative to ad valorem taxes (NO – 530,799, YES – 272,515)
CA No. 5 (ACT No. 219, 2025-RS – HB 63) — To change the mandatory retirement age of judges from 70 to 75 years of age (NO – 618,097, YES – 188, 765)
For complete election returns, click here or go to https://www.sos.la.gov/electionsandvoting/