The Associated Press has declared incumbent Karen Yarbough the winner in the Cook County Clerk’s race.
Democratic Clerk Yarbrough faced off against former Cook County Commissioner Tony Peraica, running as a Republican, and Joseph Schreiner, a Libertarian.
Advertisement
Before his bid for clerk, Peraica, an attorney, ran unsuccessfully for Cook County treasurer, Cook County president and Cook County state’s attorney. In recent years, Peraica has made news for lawsuits that take on the organization of former House Speaker Mike Madigan, including one related to a sham candidate, and another alleging a conspiracy against a young aldermanic candidate. Neither was successful.
His run this year was part of a broader effort by the local GOP to fill ballot vacancies, but like many other local Republican candidates, he did not raise money to fund his campaign.
Advertisement
Before she became clerk, Yarbrough was a state representative and the Cook County Recorder of Deeds before that office was abolished in 2020 and its duties folded into the clerk’s office. Yarbrough is also the Cook County Democratic Party’s treasurer, and serves as committeeperson for Proviso Township, which has some of the highest Democratic voter turnout in the county.
