Year 20 in office — running unopposed
Raised
$388,604Thomas Dart has run Cook County's jail for 20 years. In 2023, 18 people died inside it — the deadliest year in three decades. In 2026, he faces no primary opponent. This is his record.
Who funds Thomas Dart?
$388,604Source: https://www.illinoissunshine.org/committees/19319/
| Donor | Category | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| IUOE Local 399 Political Education Fund | Union PAC | $10,000 | confirmed |
| Thomas M. Tully | individual | $2,500 | confirmed |
| GRG Holdings LLC | Corporate | $1,000 | confirmed |
| JMS Electric Inc | Corporate | $1,000 | confirmed |
| All-Circo Inc | Corporate | $500 | confirmed |
| James V. Riley | individual | $56,000 | confirmed |
| George Zervas | individual | $55,000 | confirmed |
| SEIU Illinois Council PAC Fund | labor | $37,966 | confirmed |
| Peter Spyropoulos | individual | $32,000 | confirmed |
| John F. Winters, Jr. | individual | $30,800 | confirmed |
| UA Political Education Committee (Plumbers union) | labor | $25,000 | confirmed |
| Construction & General Laborers' District Council | labor | $23,700 | confirmed |
| Nicolay & Dart LLC | individual | $23,500 | confirmed |
| Michael Mackey | individual | $23,450 | confirmed |
Injustice Watch investigation found 18 detainee deaths at Cook County Jail in 2023, the deadliest year in at least 30 years. Supervision and medical care lapses were identified in at least half the deaths. Dart failed to properly report circumstances to state regulators and families.
Source: → https://www.injusticewatch.org/project/jail-deaths/2024/cook-county-jail-deaths-2023/
The federal DOJ sued Cook County in 2010 (United States v. Cook County, 1:10-cv-02946) over unconstitutional living conditions at Cook County Jail. A consent decree placed the jail under federal oversight for 7+ years. The decree was lifted in 2017. The 'cross-watching' practice (one officer monitoring two tiers) that was central to the decree is reportedly still in use.
A class action lawsuit alleges Dart's office unlawfully detained nine Black Chicagoans for up to two weeks after they paid bond, violating the Fourth Amendment by refusing to release them to electronic monitoring. A federal appellate court allowed the suit to proceed in January 2024.
Two senior jail officials (Drake Carpenter and Aracelis Gotay) filed suit alleging they were coerced into performing 2022 campaign work — checking petitions and canvassing — and were allegedly fired 8 days after amending their lawsuit to add the coercion allegation. According to the lawsuit, sign-in sheets show 30+ employees at campaign signature challenge sessions on county time. These allegations have not been adjudicated and Dart has not been found liable.
According to a 60-page federal lawsuit filed by Sgt. Nicole Pagani in 2025, she alleges she was demoted after reportedly discovering: ghost payrolling by 20+ employees; falsified COVID hazardous-duty pay records (potential federal fund misappropriation); nepotism in hiring (family members of senior staff); employees training personal dogs on county time; racist images on government devices; and further campaign coercion. She further alleges Dart's inner circle directed her to suppress the findings. These are unverified allegations in active litigation; Dart has not been charged or found liable.
The FBI joined an internal investigation of Cook County Sheriff's Office employees allegedly working second jobs at a Des Plaines security firm while on the county clock. FBI confirmed in late 2023 that no federal charges were filed, but the internal investigation concluded with firings.
In December 2024, the Cook County Board called a special hearing in response to Injustice Watch's reporting on the 18 jail deaths. Dart did not attend while families of deceased detainees gave tearful testimony.
A February 2026 report by C4 Cook County claimed to document over 100 'Director' and 'Executive Director' titles at Cook County Jail — reportedly more than entire state DOC systems. The report alleges the office has a revolving door of former journalists hired as communications staff, potentially creating structural conflicts of interest in critical coverage. The claim that this amounts to deliberate suppression has not been independently verified.
Source: → https://www.c4cookcounty.org/articles/corruption-exposed
According to a report by C4 Cook County, Dart allegedly hired an ABC 7 reporter (now PIO), a Chicago Tribune reporter (now Executive Director), a WBBM producer (PIO), and others including Fox 32 anchor Dane Placko's son and radio host Roe Conn. These reported hires are from news organizations that cover Cook County. Whether these hiring decisions constitute intentional suppression of coverage has not been independently verified or adjudicated.
Source: → https://www.c4cookcounty.org/articles/corruption-exposed
According to a report by C4 Cook County, Dart allegedly hired Deborah Mell — daughter of political figure Richard Mell and sister-in-law of impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich — as a director-level employee at the Sheriff's Office. This claim has not been independently verified, and no impropriety in the hiring has been established.
Source: → https://www.c4cookcounty.org/articles/corruption-exposed
Electronic monitoring program sunset in 2024 following years of civil rights criticism — advocates called it a 'human rights crisis' with arbitrary restrictions on liberty
Nicolay & Dart LLC ($23,500 donor) — company shares candidate's surname; potential conflict not investigated but notable
20+ years in office: Critics note incumbency entrenchment and minimal electoral competition (2026 primary: no Democratic challenger filed)
Justice Not Fear and Chicago Appleseed documented harms to EM participants under Dart's oversight — Dart accused of spreading 'disinformation' about EM reforms
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Thomas J. Dart has served as Cook County Sheriff since 2006 — a 20-year incumbency. He previously served in the Illinois Senate (1991–1993) and Illinois House (1993–2003). He holds a BA from Providence College and a JD from Loyola University Chicago. He runs the second-largest single-site jail in the United States, overseeing ~6,700 employees and a $700M+ annual budget. In 2026, he faces no Democratic primary opponent.
Prior office: Illinois House (1993–2003); Illinois Senate (1991–1993)
2008: Suspended all foreclosure evictions in Cook County during subprime mortgage crisis, citing harm to renters — Time magazine named him one of 100 Most Influential People (2009)
2013: Launched Office of Mental Health Policy & Advocacy — 24-hour Care Line for mentally ill ex-inmates, screening all pre-bond detainees; pioneered diversion-over-incarceration approach
2019: Filed lawsuit against Craigslist to close 'erotic services' section — dismissed on Section 230 immunity grounds
2020-2024: Ran nation's largest single-site jail (Cook County), reduced population through electronic monitoring — program overseen 1989-2025
2024 Nov: Cook County Board voted to sunset Dart's electronic monitoring program, transferring oversight to Chief Judge amid human rights concerns about restrictive conditions
2025 Mar: EM program formally transferred to Chief Judge's office; Dart's office offered 100 EM unit employees transition positions
2006-present: Refused to honor ICE detainer requests — Cook County does not hold immigrants for ICE beyond release date; sanctuary jurisdiction
A timeline of key events on this incumbent's watch.
Dart elected Cook County Sheriff, defeating incumbent Michael Sheahan's chosen successor
MilestoneDOJ files federal lawsuit — 'unconstitutional living conditions' at Cook County Jail
Legal ActionDOJ consent decree lifted after 7+ years of federal oversight
Legal ActionFBI joins internal ghost payrolling probe — employees allegedly working second jobs on county time
Legal Action18 detainee deaths — deadliest year in 30+ years. Dart fails to notify regulators or families.
Death in CustodyCory Ulmer beaten to death by guards. Dart initially calls it 'a medical emergency.' 73-page federal civil rights suit filed.
Death in CustodyCounty Board calls hearing on jail deaths. Dart does not attend.
EthicsSgt. Pagani files 60-page federal whistleblower suit — ghost pay, COVID fraud, nepotism, racist images, campaign coercion
Legal ActionRunning unopposed. Again. 20th year in office.
Election