Lee County, Alabama, will have a new sheriff for the first time in nearly three decades after longtime incumbent Jay Jones lost his Republican primary re-election bid to former deputy Cameron “Cam” Hunt, as reported by Trending Politics News.

Hunt narrowly defeated Jones with about 51 percent of the vote in the primary Tuesday, ending Jones’s 30-year tenure as sheriff. Jones had served as Lee County sheriff since 1998 and was seeking another term after seven terms in office.

The race centered heavily on immigration enforcement and whether the Lee County Sheriff’s Office should participate in the federal 287(g) program, an optional agreement that allows trained local law enforcement officers to carry out certain immigration enforcement duties under the supervision of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Hunt criticized Jones during the campaign for not placing Lee County in the 287(g) program.

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He argued that Lee County was one of 31 sheriff’s offices in Alabama not participating and said the county would be safer if local deputies had a formal partnership with ICE under the program.

The issue gained more attention after a deputy-involved shooting in April 2026 involving a person Hunt described as allegedly undocumented. Hunt renewed his criticism after the incident and pledged that, if elected, he would make sure Lee County joined 287(g).

Jones defended his office’s record throughout the campaign and said the criticism was misleading.

He maintained that his office already worked with federal authorities and said deputies regularly notified ICE when illegal aliens were in custody, honored lawful detainers, helped with transfers to federal custody, and supported removal proceedings when allowed by law.

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Jones also said joining the 287(g) program would bring additional administrative duties and possible liability costs. He argued that not having a formal 287(g) agreement had not stopped the Lee County Sheriff’s Office from cooperating effectively with ICE.

The 287(g) program was established under federal law and allows local law enforcement agencies to enter agreements with the Department of Homeland Security for immigration enforcement support.

Under President Donald Trump, the program received renewed focus as part of broader efforts to increase cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.

Jones began his law enforcement career in 1975 as a deputy with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office while he was a student at Auburn University.

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He later worked as an adjunct professor of criminal justice at Auburn University and Southern Union State Community College.

The campaign also included a personnel dispute between Jones and Hunt. In October 2025, Jones fired Hunt after Hunt announced he was running for sheriff without first resigning from his deputy position.

Jones said the decision to campaign rather than resign led to the termination.

Hunt’s victory marks the first change in the Lee County sheriff’s office since Jones first took office in 1998. He is now set to become the county’s first new sheriff in three decades.

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