Election upset means new sheriff in town for Wake

Harrison, a Republican who was seeking his fifth term in office, lost to Democrat Gerald Baker by a 55 to 45 percent margin, according to unofficial results.

November 2018 general election results

Baker worked for the Wake County Sheriff's Office for 28 years, including 15 under Harrison.

He made participation in a federal immigration program a key issue in the election. Wake County is one of just six counties statewide that partner with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to transfer people who have been arrested and are believed to be in the U.S. illegally to federal custody.

Harrison has defended the program as a way to ensure public safety, but Baker has said some people are arrested on minor infractions, and the program winds up tearing apart their families.

Kyron Dwain Hinton said he suffered a broken eye socket, broken nose, multiple cuts on his head, "probably 20 bite marks" and memory loss during an April 3 incident when several officers knocked him to the ground and hit him while the sheriff's office K-9 bit him on his right arm, side and head.

Harrison said he has no problem keeping Broadwell on staff while the criminal case plays out, but Baker said deputies need to be held to a higher standard.