Lukas wins Democratic nomination for DuPage County coroner

Judith Lukas defeated Jeffrey Jacobson Tuesday in a bid to be the Democratic nominee for DuPage County coroner.

As of 9:45 p.m., Lukas had 37,810 votes to Jacobson’s 20,418, according to unofficial results. That was with 97% of Election Day ballots counted, as well as all early votes and some vote-by-mail ballots.

The winner will take on incumbent DuPage County Coroner Dr. Richard Jorgensen this fall.

Jorgensen, who has been coroner since 2012, was unchallenged in the Republican Party primary. He lives in Wheaton.

Before the election, Jacobson criticized the way Jorgensen runs the coroner’s office, saying it should provide more information about deaths, especially suicides and drug overdose deaths. He said the coroner’s website should have links to organizations that offer help.

Jacobson is a lawyer.

Lukas, a registered nurse and Winfield Township trustee, said her experience dealing with evidence-based science would help her in death investigations.

Lukas said a party official asked her to run four years ago, but she did not. This time, she decided she was interested, especially after two of her nephews killed themselves and another died due to a drug overdose. She said as coroner she would work to try to prevent deaths from suicide and drug overdoses, including attending community events such as health fairs.

Before becoming a nurse, she worked in human resources for the U.S. Postal Service.

Lukas has been a township trustee since 2021.