Ex-Lake County coroner Rudd to drop out of 10th Congressional District race

Democratic congressional candidate Thomas Rudd of Lake Forest is ending his campaign for the 10th District seat just two weeks after filing to run.

Rudd — a former Lake County coroner who in 2018 pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor election law violation and was temporarily prohibited from running for office again — told the Daily Herald he intends to withdraw his name from ballot consideration because he didn’t gather enough signatures on his candidate petitions.

Rudd said he would file the necessary paperwork by Thursday. He declined to discuss the matter further.

Rudd’s petitions had been formally challenged by fellow Democratic hopeful Morgan Coghill of Mundelein. Coghill also objected to the paperwork filed by another 10th District Democratic candidate, John Minarcik of Zion.

The Illinois State Board of Elections will review Minarcik’s paperwork and decide if he should appear on the March 17, 2026, primary ballot.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park represents the 10th District and is running for reelection. The district includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.

Republican Carl Lambrecht of Highland Park also is running.

Objections to candidate petitions in the 3rd, 8th, 9th and 11th congressional districts, which serve other parts of the suburbs, also have been filed. For more information, visit elections.il.gov.