Democrat Gina Pimentel won the Lake County auditor race Tuesday, Nov. 3, defeating Republican Charles “Chuck” Messler with 64.69% of the vote, according to the latest unofficial results from the Lake County Election Board.

Pimentel received 92,769 votes to Messler’s 50,645, a margin of 42,124 votes. All 336 precincts were reporting in the county’s updated results Wednesday, Nov. 4.

Messler called Pimentel to concede, she said, as first reported by the NWI Times.

The county auditor oversees financial records, county funds and property-tax administration. The office's responsibilities include maintaining records of county revenue and expenditures, overseeing property-tax assessments and collections, and distributing tax revenue to local government units, according to the Lake County Auditor's Office. Those responsibilities affect property owners and local governments throughout the county, including Gary, East Chicago and Whiting.

Pimentel previously served as Lake County recorder, taking office in 2021 after working as chief deputy recorder. During her campaign for auditor, she proposed retraining employees who handle property-tax deductions to help ensure eligible residents receive the deductions they qualify for, according to Capital B Gary's candidate guide.

Pimentel announced her candidacy in 2025, saying the auditor's office was a natural next step because it works closely with the recorder's office. She also identified property-tax deductions and the county's tax-sale process as areas she wanted to improve, according to the Chicago Tribune.

Pimentel's victory was part of a broader Democratic showing in Lake County. Democrats won races for county commissioner, two County Council seats, auditor, treasurer and clerk of court, according to Capital B Gary's election results coverage.

Across the county, voter turnout was 39.52% among 371,920 registered voters, according to the updated election summary. The report listed all 336 precincts as reporting.

Pimentel attended an election night watch party for Lake County Democrats, where she was seen speaking with Lake County Assessor Latonya Spearman, who ran unopposed and received 100% of the vote in her race.

The election results remain unofficial pending formal certification.