In 2018, he lost his close bid for re-election as Hennepin County sheriff to newcomer David Hutchinson by just over 2,000 votes.

[2] Stanek also introduced many bills related to law enforcement, including legislation "requiring a driver's license revocation for anyone convicted of fleeing a police officer; allowing for a verdict of "guilty but mentally ill" in state courts; creating a mandatory life sentence for a second violent felony conviction; ... [and] specifying that an officer's 'use of less lethal munitions does not constitute deadly force.

[3] In 2003, Stanek was appointed by Tim Pawlenty to serve as commissioner of public safety and director of homeland security.

[7][8] In 2007 Mayor R.T. Rybak and Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan criticized Stanek for providing false information in the 26-minute video on the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge and for taking credit for actions that weren't his responsibility.

"His theft of the credit is not going to sit well with my staff and our hard working partners," Minneapolis police chief Tim Dolan said in an e-mail.

[10] Melissa Hill, who ran a campaign against Stanek under the slogan "Kitten for Sheriff"[11] was awarded $15,000 in a federal civil rights settlement against Hennepin County.

This sends a strong message that they can't be misusing their trespass policy to suppress free speech.

Stanek "advocates for a larger role for the Hennepin County sheriff, and he wants to be held harmless from any budget cuts," Board Chair Mike Opat said.

[15] The personnel sharing, under the auspices of the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, sparked protests and was met with criticism from Minneapolis City Council member Alondra Cano, state Senator Patricia Torres Ray, state Representative Peggy Flanagan, and Clyde Bellecourt.

[17] He joined the race late, and suffered a serious car accident several weeks before the Minnesota Republican Party's endorsing convention in May 2022.