Sen. Napoleon Harris Among Democrats Seeking Cook County Clerk Vacancy
Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) is seeking the appointment to the November ballot for Cook County Clerk.
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Sen. Napoleon Harris (D-Harvey) is among four candidates so far throwing their hat in the ring to earn an appointment to the vacant Cook County Clerk office.
Clerk Karen Yarbrough, a former State Representative, died unexpectedly earlier this month.
It’s expected County Democrats will meet Friday to choose Yarbrough’s replacement, though top Democrats tell The Illinoize Cook County Democratic Chair and County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wants Chief Deputy Clerk Cedric Giles, who has been acting as Clerk since Yarbrough’s death, to fill the job through the November election.
That would mean Harris, County Commissioner Kevin Morrison, and County Commissioner Donna Miller (who Harris defeated for his Senate seat in 2012) would seek the appointment to the November ballot. The county party has not released the names of applicants as of Monday night, but sources say Harris, Miller, and Morrison are widely anticipated to seek the appointment. Cook County Commissioner Monica Gordon also appears to be poised to get in the race.
Harris is a former Northwestern University and NFL star. But his candidacy is being met with opposition.
We’re told both Personal PAC, the influential pro-abortion organization and Equality Illinois are advocating against Harris, claiming he is one of the “worst” Democrats in Springfield on abortion and LGBTQ legislation.
Harris briefly ran in a special election for Congress in 2013 before dropping out. He also finished third in a U.S. Senate primary to Tammy Duckworth in 2016.