BLOOMINGTON, MN – Bloomington police officer Jai Hanson (@Jai4Sheriff) today announced his independent candidacy for Hennepin County Sheriff, setting up a challenge to DFL-endorsed incumbent Sheriff David Hutchinson in the November 2022 general election.

Hanson, 36, was born in India and adopted and brought to Minneapolis when he was just two years old. He was raised in South Minneapolis, just a few miles from George Floyd Square, where his parents instilled in him the importance of public service. His father Sam Hanson served as an Associate Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court, while his mother Mirja Hanson dedicated herself as an educator and community and non-profit consultant.

Following in their footsteps of public service, Jai has served the last 14 years as a police officer, first with the City of Lakeville and currently with the City of Bloomington. Jai is running for Hennepin County Sheriff in the November 2022 election as an independent, and he will not be seeking an endorsement from any political party.

“I believe to stop our crime epidemic we need an independent Sheriff who focuses on people, not politics,” said Hanson. “Because when a political party is involved, the interests of the party can become more important than the safety of the residents of Hennepin County.”

“As a police officer and a man of color, I’ve seen firsthand how far Hennepin County must go when it comes to repairing relationships with our communities – especially our minority communities,” added Hanson. “We need new leadership with an independent Sheriff who can both support law enforcement and work to reform policing with a focus on visibility in preventing crime. And most importantly, we need to get politics out of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office.”

Watch Jai’s announcement video here.

The primary election for Hennepin County sheriff is Tuesday, August 9, 2022, and the general election is Tuesday, November 8, 2022.

About Jai Hanson:

Jai Hanson was born in India and grew up in South Minneapolis, just a few miles from George Floyd Square. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree from North Park University in Chicago, Illinois and a Master’s Degree in Public Safety from the University of St. Thomas. Earlier this year, Jai and his father Sam were profiled in a Star Tribune article on finding common ground on race and policing in Minnesota. Read their story here.

Follow Jai’s Campaign:

Website: https://www.Jai4Sheriff.com

Facebook: Facebook.com/Jai4Sheriff

Twitter: Twitter.com/Jai4Sheriff