With the bulk of precincts reporting, Stillwater Police Chief Brian Mueller emerged as the clear frontrunner in the Washington County sheriff primary held Tuesday, capturing a commanding lead and earning a spot on the November ballot.
Primary results and next steps
As of returns from 81 of 84 precincts, Mueller, 53, of Lake Elmo, led the three-way field with approximately 68% of the vote. He and Jeremy Bolen, 44, of Cottage Grove, advanced to the general election after Bolen finished second with about 18% of the vote. A third candidate, Henry Mathia of Woodbury, received roughly 14% of ballots cast.
The two top vote-getters will face off in the general election on Nov. 3. The outgoing sheriff, Dan Starry, who was appointed to the office in 2017 and later elected in 2018 and 2022, is not seeking a third term and has publicly endorsed Mueller.
Background on the leading candidates
Mueller has served as Stillwater police chief since January 2021. Before that appointment, he was chief deputy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office beginning in 2017. His law enforcement career began in 1998 with the White Bear Lake Police Department. The primary results reflect his longstanding ties to the county sheriff’s office and local policing roles.
Bolen is a commander with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office and has worked there for 22 years. His responsibilities currently include leading administrative services. Bolen’s résumé includes patrol, investigations support, corrections, emergency management, water patrol, budgeting and strategic leadership — experience he will likely emphasize in the general election campaign.
Mathia, who served 14 years with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Enduring Freedom. His deployments included Bahrain, Kuwait and Afghanistan; he was also deployed to Djibouti and has experience as an Installation Security Officer. Mathia received about 14% of the vote and did not advance.
What the outcome means locally
The primary result narrows the contest to two candidates with significant law-enforcement experience but different professional backgrounds: a current municipal police chief with recent county sheriff’s office leadership (Mueller) and a long-serving county commander with broad administrative responsibilities (Bolen). Voters in Washington County will decide whether to continue with a candidate who rose through the sheriff’s office ranks or to choose a leader whose career has been centered in the neighboring Ramsey County system.
Washington County residents will want to watch how each campaign addresses priorities such as staffing and recruitment, community policing, mental-health responses, budgeting and cooperation with neighboring jurisdictions. The endorsement of Mueller by outgoing Sheriff Dan Starry may also shape voter perceptions and the campaign narrative through November.
Precinct returns at a glance
| Candidate | Residence | Approx. vote share |
|---|---|---|
| Brian Mueller | Lake Elmo | 68% |
| Jeremy Bolen | Cottage Grove | 18% |
| Henry Mathia | Woodbury | 14% |
What voters should know now
- The general election is scheduled for Nov. 3; both Mueller and Bolen will appear on that ballot.
- Outgoing Sheriff Dan Starry has endorsed Mueller; he announced last year he would not seek another term.
- Voters should expect the campaigns to highlight candidates’ law-enforcement experience, administrative priorities and plans for county policing and public safety.
As the race moves to the general election, Washington County voters will have opportunities to compare the finalists’ positions in debates, candidate forums and campaign statements. The candidates’ plans for staffing, budgeting and collaboration with mental-health and social services agencies may be key issues for residents evaluating who should lead the sheriff’s office next term.
Election officials reported returns from most precincts Tuesday night; final certified results will be posted by the county in the coming weeks.
— Grace Yun, State Correspondent
