Dave Rosado
2024 - Present
2026
0
Dave Rosado (Republican Party) is the Chesapeake City Sheriff in Virginia. Rosado assumed office on November 1, 2024. Rosado's current term ends on January 1, 2026.
Rosado (independent) is running for re-election for Chesapeake City Sheriff in Virginia. Rosado declared candidacy as a write-in for the general election scheduled on November 4, 2025.[source] Rosado lost in the Republican primary on June 17, 2025.
Nov. 4 Chesapeake City Sheriff election
- See also: Chesapeake City Sheriff election, 2025
Ballotpedia identified the Nov. 4 Chesapeake City Sheriff election as a battleground election. For more on the election, click here.
Incumbent Sheriff Dave Rosado (Write-In) and Wallace Chadwick III (R) are running in the general election for Sheriff of Chesapeake, Virginia, on Nov. 4, 2025. According to the sheriff's office official website, the office's "primary responsibilities include operating the Chesapeake Correctional Center, transporting inmates, providing security for all courts within the city, and serving as the law enforcement arm of the courts."[1] Sheriffs are elected to four-year terms and do not have term limits.[2]
Chadwick defeated Rosado 58% to 42% in the Republican primary on June 17, 2025. Following the primary, Rosado announced his campaign as a write-in candidate.[3] According to WTKR News 3's Maddie Miller, a write-in campaign is the only way Rosado can participate in the general election since Virginia law states that "if a candidate loses a primary race, their name cannot be printed on the general election ballot for that office."[3]
No Democrats are running in the general election. The Chesapeake Democratic Party's leadership committee voted on July 10, 2025, to endorse Rosado.[4] According to Bolts' Alex Burness, "Chesapeake is a purple city that has often voted for Democrats, including in four of the past five presidential elections."[4]
The Virginian Pilot's Natalie Anderson wrote, "At the heart of the division in the race is the city's immigration enforcement and cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. [...] Rosado said the city is following all ICE best practices and has even expanded its partnership. [...] Chadwick, argues Rosado only began to hold inmates in custody on ICE detainers after Chadwick criticized the sheriff's office for not doing so."[5]
Rosado started working at the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office in 2001.[6] During his tenure, he held multiple positions, including director of training, chief of administration, and director of corrections.[6] In 2022, then-Sheriff Jim O'Sullivan (R) selected Rosado as undersheriff.[6] After O'Sullivan left the office in 2024, Rosado became sheriff.[6]
On the election, Rosado said, "I am running for the office of Sheriff because I have dedicated my career to serving and protecting the people of Chesapeake, and I am committed to continuing the steady, proven leadership our community deserves."[7] Rosado said his priorities would include "strengthening public safety, expanding programs that help reduce recidivism, protecting our seniors and youth, and making sure our staff have the resources and leadership they deserve."[7]
Chadwick started working at the Chesapeake Police Department in 2000.[8] In 2009, he founded Law Enforcement United, Inc., which, according to its website, works to "raise awareness of law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty."[8][9] Chadwick also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1995 to 1999.[8]
On the election, Chadwick said, "For too long, the Chesapeake Sheriff's Office has operated under a system of nepotism and succession, leaving voters without a true choice in leadership. But this year is different. I am stepping forward to give Chesapeake voters a real option—one that puts integrity, accountability, and experience first."[10] Chadwick said his priorities would include "end[ing] catch-and-release permanently," "bring[ing] full transparency to the Sheriff's Office," and "keep[ing] our neighborhoods safe."[10]
Elections
2025
See also: City elections in Chesapeake, Virginia (2025)
General election
General election for Chesapeake City Sheriff
Incumbent Dave Rosado and Wallace Chadwick III are running in the general election for Chesapeake City Sheriff on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Dave Rosado (Independent) (Write-in) | |
 | Wallace Chadwick III (R) | |
| ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Chesapeake City Sheriff
Wallace Chadwick III defeated incumbent Dave Rosado in the Republican primary for Chesapeake City Sheriff on June 17, 2025.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Wallace Chadwick III | 58.3 | 7,385 |
| Dave Rosado | 41.7 | 5,292 | |
| Total votes: 12,677 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
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Campaign themes
2025
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
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You can ask Dave Rosado to fill out this survey by using the button below or emailing drosado@cityofchesapeake.net.
See also
2025 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ The Chesapeake Sheriff's Office, "Who We Are," accessed Sepetmber 14, 2025
- ↑ Code of Virginia, "Article 3. Sheriff. § 15.2-1609. Sheriff.," accessed September 15 2025
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 WTKR News 3, "Chesapeake Sheriff Rosado continues election campaign as write-in candidate after primary defeat," June 24, 2025
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bolts, "Democrats in Southeast Virginia Endorse “Pro-Trump, Pro-ICE” Sheriff," July 18, 2025
- ↑ The Virginian-Pilot, "Immigration enforcement at heart of divisive Chesapeake sheriff’s race," June 5, 2025
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 WTKR News 3, "Chesapeake swears in first new sheriff in 12 years," Noevmber 1, 2024
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 WAVY TV 10, "Candidate Profile: Dave Rosado (Chesapeake Sheriff race)," May 14, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "WAVY TV 10 Rosado" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 LinkedIn, "Wallace Chadwick," accessed September 14, 2025
- ↑ Law Enforcement United, Inc., "About Us," accessed September 14, 2025
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 WAVY TV 10, "Candidate Profile: Wallace W. Chadwick III (Chesapeake Sheriff race)," May 22, 2025
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