Newly elected sheriffs in Delaware, Bucks counties among youngest in country

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Delaware County will soon have a new sheriff in town. Democrat Siddiq Kamara won Tuesday night's election and will make history once he's sworn in.

"I'm so grateful. Where my family came from. We came from a civil war. I lost my mom at the age of one," Kamara said.

At 30 years old, Kamara will become not only the country's youngest sheriff but also the first-generation Liberian American sheriff.

After graduating from Upper Darby High School, Kamara joined the Army. He later worked in the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, eventually serving on Governor Josh Shapiro's executive detail.

"I received a call from Governor Josh Shapiro today congratulating me and how he's so proud of me," Kamara said.

His decision to run was also personal. In 2021, his 8-year-old cousin, Fanta Bility, was shot and killed by police who fired into a crowd in Sharon Hill.

"I don't want no family to go through this tragedy again," Kamara said. "I want to make sure my deputies are properly trained, properly equipped to serve all Delaware County residents."

Kamara says his victory - along with his friend Danny Ceisler's election as Bucks County Sheriff - reflects voters' desire for change.

"Siddiq and I, we're looking at our futures," Ceisler said. "We're trying to shape the world not that our kids will grow up in but that we will come up in."

At 33 years old, Ceisler, also a Democrat and Army veteran, won with more than 55% of the vote in Bucks County. He defeated incumbent Republican Fred Harran, who had signed a 287(g) agreement allowing deputies to work with ICE.

"When I come into office, I will be able to put a moratorium on day one, which will stop any immigration enforcement being done by the Bucks County Sheriff's Office," Ceisler said.

Ceisler added that he plans to focus on public safety priorities, including clearing the county's warrant backlog.

"Voters gave Democrats the opportunity to lead on public safety and now it is my responsibility to deliver on that," he said.