It’s been a wild ride in the Chicago suburbs. If you’ve lived in DuPage County long enough, you remember when this place was a "ruby red" fortress. Well, that’s officially ancient history. Looking at the DuPage County election results 2024, it’s clear the political identity of this collar county has shifted into something way more complex. It's not just a blue wave anymore; it's a deep-seated blue lean that seems to be sticking.
Honestly, the numbers tell a story of a county that’s basically decided it’s done with the old-school GOP brand, at least at the top of the ticket. Kamala Harris took the county with roughly 55% of the vote. Donald Trump pulled about 41.9%. While that’s a solid win for the Democrats, it's actually a bit of a "tightening" compared to 2020. People were paying attention to every single vote this time around.
The Top of the Ticket and the Margin Games
Let's look at the raw data because that's what everyone is Googling. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz secured 251,164 votes. Trump and Vance? They landed at 191,243. That’s nearly a 60,000-vote gap.
Is DuPage still a "swing" county? Kinda, but only if you look at the local level. At the federal level, it’s increasingly looking like a Democratic stronghold. Third-party candidates like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (who was still on the ballot) and Jill Stein barely made a dent, pulling in about 1.5% and 1.3% respectively.
The interesting part is the turnout. DuPage always shows up. This year, the clerk’s office handled a massive influx of early voting and mail-in ballots. We’re talking 210,419 early votes and nearly 100,000 mail-in ballots. That's a lot of paper.
Local Races: Where the Real Drama Lived
While the presidential race gets the headlines, the local DuPage County election results 2024 were where things got spicy. You’ve got the County Board, the Forest Preserve, and those administrative offices that actually run your daily life.
One of the most watched races was for Circuit Court Clerk. Candice Adams, the Democratic incumbent, held her ground against Jeremy "Jaye" Wang. She won by about 29,000 votes. People like to talk about "ballot fatigue," where voters stop checking boxes as they go down the list, but Adams’ numbers suggest DuPage voters were specifically looking for her name.
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Then you have the DuPage County Coroner race. This was a nail-biter. Judith Lukas (D) vs. Richard Jorgensen (R). Jorgensen had been the incumbent since 2012, but Lukas managed to squeeze out a win by a razor-thin margin—roughly 50.6% to 49.3%. When we say every vote counts, this is the race we’re pointing at.
The County Board’s New Look
The DuPage County Board is basically the "brain" of the county. It controls the budget and the big-picture planning. The DuPage County election results 2024 showed a split that keeps things interesting.
- District 1: Cindy Cronin Cahill (R) beat Maria Sinkule (D). This was a big win for the Republicans to keep a foothold in the northeastern part of the county.
- District 2: Andrew Honig (D) took the win over Laura Hois (R).
- District 4: Lynn LaPlante (D) held off Annette Corrigan (R).
- District 5: In the Naperville/Aurora area, Saba Haider (D) won over Patricia Gustin (R).
What does this mean? It means the board stays under Democratic control, but the GOP isn't totally locked out. It’s a delicate balance that prevents either side from getting too comfortable.
The State’s Attorney Exception
If you want to see how DuPage still values individual candidates over party lines, look no further than Robert Berlin. The Republican State’s Attorney ran unopposed and pulled in over 330,000 votes.
Think about that for a second.
Harris won the county with 251k. Berlin, a Republican, got nearly 80,000 more votes than the Democratic presidential candidate. This happens because Berlin has built a reputation for being "tough but fair" and staying out of the partisan mud-slinging. He’s the exception to the rule in the DuPage County election results 2024.
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Referendums: The Money Questions
Voters also had to decide on some big money questions. The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County asked for a tax increase to help with land conservation and maintenance.
Usually, "tax increase" is a scary phrase in Illinois. But DuPage loves its trails and trees. The referendum passed comfortably. People basically said, "Fine, take a little more of my property tax money if it means the forest preserves stay clean and open."
Indian Prairie School District 204 also had a major referendum on the ballot for school improvements. In a county where property values are tied directly to school quality, these local votes often matter more to homeowners than who is in the White House.
Why These Results Matter for 2026 and Beyond
So, why are we still talking about this? Because DuPage is a "bellwether" for the rest of the Illinois collar counties. What happens in Wheaton and Naperville today usually happens in Will and Kane counties tomorrow.
The DuPage County election results 2024 prove that the "old" Republican Party—the one that focused purely on fiscal conservatism without the modern "culture war" stuff—is struggling to find its footing here. However, candidates like Bob Berlin show that voters will still support a Republican if they feel that person is doing a good job specifically for the local community.
Actionable Takeaways for Residents
If you're looking at these results and wondering "what now?", here are the practical next steps for staying involved in the local political landscape:
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1. Check Your Tax Bill
Since the Forest Preserve and various school referendums passed, you’ll see those changes reflected in your future property tax assessments. Keep an eye on the "line items" to see exactly where your money is going.
2. Watch the Board Meetings
With the new members sworn in, the DuPage County Board will be making big decisions on infrastructure and social services. You can watch these meetings online. It’s the best way to see if the people you voted for are actually doing what they promised.
3. Prepare for the Consolidated Elections
The 2024 "big" election is over, but the local municipal elections (mayors, city councils, library boards) are always around the corner. These are non-partisan races where your vote has 10x the impact.
4. Update Your Registration
If you moved during the 2024 cycle or had issues at the polls, visit the DuPage County Clerk’s website now. Don't wait until the next big deadline to fix your address or registration status.
The 2024 results aren't just a spreadsheet of names; they are a map of where DuPage is heading. It’s a place that’s becoming more diverse, more suburban-liberal, and yet still fiercely protective of its local institutions. Whether you’re happy with the outcome or not, the 2024 cycle proved that DuPage County is no longer a predictable "safe" bet for anyone.
Next Steps for Informed Voters:
- Review the official canvass: Visit the DuPage County Election Results portal for the precinct-by-precinct breakdown of your specific neighborhood.
- Contact your representative: Use the county's "Find My District" tool to reach out to your newly elected or re-elected County Board member about local issues like drainage, zoning, or public safety.
- Volunteer for 2026: If you saw things in this election that you didn't like—or things you loved—now is the time to connect with local party organizations or non-partisan groups like the League of Women Voters.