Monica Gordon

Monica Gordon was sworn in as Cook County Clerk in December 2024.¹ She previously served as a Cook County Commissioner for the 5th District and vice chair of the county's Transportation Committee.² Before that, she was executive director of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus Foundation and director of government affairs at Chicago State University.³ She also chaired the board of Prairie State Community College.²

Gordon has said voting by mail is a secure option governed by state law and subject to multiple checks. She urged voters to return mail ballots early or use secure drop boxes at early voting locations. Her office counters misinformation through a website it calls a 'trusted source.' When nominated, she pledged to improve online access to records, potentially use AI for customer service, and improve language access at polling places. She created the clerk's office's first deputy clerk for diversity, equity and inclusion, saying federal policies had pushed immigrant families and same-sex couples to seek birth certificates and marriage licenses. She is working with the Cook County Sheriff to ensure polling places remain safe.^{4, 5, 6, 7}

In 2025, her office launched a High School Early Voting program with the Chicago Bears, which won a national award for voter education.⁸ She marked National Voter Registration Day by encouraging registration with a focus on young voters.⁹