Willis ran and won as a Democrat. All sheriffs in that state and neighboring states across the South ran and won as Democrats back then, from 1880s to 1960. There was no other choice typically and they were all racist segregationists. The Democrat Party until mid-1964 was the national party of racism. It was those Democrats who quit the Southern wing and became Republicans because Kennedy order Troops into Mississippi (Ole Miss) to force James Meredith to be integrated as a student that was a key event that turned them, followed by LBJ sign the first CRA (that traitor! They thought.) Now the transition is complete and they are Republicans. But history needs continued revision and this is a great case that reveals the problems. The FBI back then had very little authority and could really “only” investigate and produce records. They still can’t arrest people for a crime that is not federal. That’s why they can’t arrest cops like those who shot Brianna, George Floyd and all the others.