Former U.S. Marshall for Nebraska Mark Martinez is seeking to unseat Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson. (Courtesy of the Martinez campaign)
OMAHA — A former U.S. marshal is running for Douglas County Sheriff as a Democrat.
Mark Martinez seeks to unseat Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, a Republican. Martinez is banking on his law enforcement experience to flip the post blue and says he is looking to “restore” community trust.
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Martinez’s main pitch to Omaha-area voters is “needed experience” and his willingness to work “side by side with the community.”
“I think Douglas County needs an experienced and battle-tested sheriff,” Martinez said.
Martinez, a lifelong Nebraskan, was U.S marshal for the District of Nebraska from 2010 to 2018, appointed by former President Barack Obama. The former deputy chief moved up the ranks of the Omaha Police Department, where he served from 1984 to 2009. He also previously worked at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office as a crime lab technician.
Both Martinez and Hanson share ties to Omaha police, where Hanson was a sergeant in the fugitive unit and a union leader. Hanson announced his bid for a second term as sheriff late last year. He won a tight race in 2022 against retired Omaha Deputy Police Chief Greg Gonzalez, a Democrat.
Martinez said that if he were elected sheriff he would better coordinate with OPD and other law enforcement agencies to combat violent crime and human trafficking. He said he would find more ways to work with communities and build partnerships. He also wants to provide more training and boost recruiting at the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Martinez mentioned a 2025 incident in which 19-year-old Janidi Ibrahim was shot and killed by a Douglas County deputy with the Special Operations Group in North Omaha as an example of community mistrust that has flared under Hanson. He described a “lack of communication” between OPD and the sheriff’s office.
A Douglas County grand jury found not enough evidence to charge officers in Ibrahim’s death.
“The trust level towards law enforcement with the community is not ideal right now,” Martinez said, “[if] more law enforcement agencies can work together… the safer the community is going to be.”
Omaha Police Chief Todd Schmaderer, in a leaked letter, criticized Hanson for offering commentary on issues in Omaha and asked the sheriff’s office to inform Omaha Police whenever the Special Operations Group operates inside city limits.
In the letter, the chief wrote that the Special Operations Group was causing community members to become “very tense.” Schmaderer wrote that he could not let “decades of work … with the community be compromised.”
Hanson said “folks across the county appreciate the transparency” from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office about uncomfortable topics because “honest conversation” leads to “solutions.”
He told the Examiner this week that his department has made more efforts to address “quality of life issues” such as homeless encampments and reckless driving.
He said he is proud of his department and the way it has “worked to be responsive to any citizen of Douglas County” and that his agency values keeping families safe. He has pointed to reductions in crimes involving theft, financial scams, and assaults during his term as sheriff.
Hanson has faced some local criticism over trying to offer county jail space for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees and for his vocal support for the Trump administration. Martinez said community trust is “delicate” and can be lost if “sound, well-thought-out decisions are not made.”
Hanson said this week that every law enforcement agency faces criticism.
“We don’t ignore the critical voices …We listen to them because they are a part of that overall community voice. But ultimately, it’s important to be in touch with the majority of people across the county,” Hanson said.
Sheriff’s races — like other down-ballot races in 2026 — could be impacted by the political headwinds at the top of the ticket in a midterm election year. In Douglas County, like nationally, Democrats appear more excited to vote than Republicans, which is typical in off-year elections when one party holds the presidency and both houses of Congress.
Local turnout could be boosted by interest in a now-open 2nd Congressional District U.S. House race after the announced retirement of U.S. Rep. Don Bacon, R-Neb.
Douglas County, home to Nebraska’s largest city, has 366,520 registered voters — including 132,033 registered Democrats, 129,891 Republicans, 94,849 registered nonpartisans, according to the Douglas County Election Commission’s website. The rest are split between smaller parties like Libertarian and Legal Marijuana NOW.
The City of Omaha has trended blue lately in local races, with a Democratic mayor, John Ewing, defeating incumbent GOP Mayor Jean Stothert. Martinez has Ewing’s endorsement and the backing of State Sen. Margo Juarez of Omaha, and Douglas County Commissioner Roger Garcia.
Hanson has the endorsement of Bacon and other Republican officeholders he has yet to roll out this cycle.
The general election is on November 3, 2026.
This story is provided by States Newsroom, a nonprofit state news network and Blox Digital content partner.
