Karen Yarbrough, Pioneering Cook County Clerk and Politician, Dies at 73

Karen Yarbrough, the first African American and woman to serve as Cook County Clerk, died on Sunday at the age of 73.& According to ABC 7 Chicago, Yarbrough was hospitalized in critical condition with an undisclosed illness.& Karen Yarbrough, a dedicated Democrat, served as the Cook County Clerk from 2018 until her recent passing. Her term was set to end on December 1, 2026. She was re-elected in the general election on November 8, 2022, after a successful tenure representing District 7 as a Democratic member in the Illinois House of Representatives from 2001 to 2013, including a stint as assistant majority leader from 2011 to 2012. Outside of her political career, Yarbrough was a woman of many accomplishments. She was the founder and CEO of Hathaway Insurance Agency Incorporated. She was also a scholar, holding a B.A. in business management from Chicago State University, an M.A. in inner city studies from Northeastern Illinois University, and an M.A. in advanced leadership studies from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Having also served as a long-time Illinois state representative and the county recorder of deeds, Yarbrough’s responsibilities as Cook County Clerk included overseeing all election functions, from voter registration to ballot counting...