Monica Gordon, the Democratic incumbent, is running for a full term as Cook County Clerk in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. She was sworn into office on Dec. 2, 2024, becoming the youngest woman and the third African American to hold the position, according to a City Club Chicago profile.
The Cook County Clerk leads one of the largest consolidated clerk's offices in the nation, according to that profile. Gordon has said she is focused on election security, modernizing office operations and ensuring equitable access to services.
Candidate information
- Party: Democratic
- Office sought: Cook County Clerk
- Election date: Nov. 3, 2026
- Ballot status: Certified for the ballot
- Residence: Chicago Southland region of Cook County
- Education: Bachelor's degree in journalism, Northern Illinois University; master's degree in communications and training, Governors State University
Experience and public service
Gordon served as a Cook County commissioner representing the 5th District from 2022 to 2024, including a role as vice chair of the board's Transportation Committee, according to the City Club Chicago profile. She also served as board chair and trustee at Prairie State Community College and as Democratic committeeperson for Bloom Township.
Her professional background includes work as executive director of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation and director of government affairs and community relations at Chicago State University. She also worked as a lobbyist at Pugh & Associates, according to BallotReady profile data. Gordon is also founder of EQ Capital Consulting LLC.
Gordon has held roles with several civic organizations. Those include treasurer of Illinois Democratic Women, fellow with the Edgar Program and Illinois Women in Leadership, and member of the Chicago Southland Economic Development Corporation. She also served as board member of Girls 4 Science and member of the National Association of Counties Transportation Steering Committee.
On the issues
Election security and voting rights: Gordon said her office prepared for months to address the possibility of a federal presence at polls ahead of the March 2026 primary. She said the county deployed additional security personnel and election judges during early voting and on Election Day, with staff "strategically located throughout suburban Cook County," as reported by Politico's Illinois Playbook. "Our responsibility is to be prepared, not reactive," Gordon said. Her office's crisis management planning accounts for both cyber and physical threats, she said.
Voter access and civil rights: Gordon has said she supports multilingual support and disability accommodations so that language barriers and physical challenges do not prevent residents from accessing county services. On elections, she has called for accessible polling locations, extended voting hours and voter education initiatives, according to her campaign website.
Government modernization: Gordon has said she wants to digitize routine tasks such as document processing, voter registration and record keeping. She has called for electronic filing, online service portals and redesigned workflows to reduce wait times for licenses and permits, according to her campaign website.
Infrastructure: Gordon has said she supports efforts across levels of government to address lead service lines and to expand broadband access in Cook County communities, according to her campaign website.
Criminal justice and public safety: Gordon has said she supports community engagement initiatives such as block clubs and neighborhood watch programs. She has also called for funding for youth development, violence prevention, reentry services and substance abuse programs, according to her campaign website.
Endorsements
The following endorsements are claimed by the endorsing organizations, according to BallotReady profile data:
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 134
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399
- IUOE Local 150
- Chicago Federation of Labour
- Cook County Democrats
- Equality IL
- Personal PAC
Candidate positions in this profile are drawn from Gordon's campaign website and public statements attributed to her office. They reflect the candidate's own characterizations of her record and priorities.
