Elected to the office of Cook County Clerk on November 6, 2018, she was the first woman and African American to hold the position.

[4] In 1998, Yarbrough unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Eugene Moore in the Democratic primary for the 7th district seat in the Illinois House of Representatives.

[5] Yarbrough ran again for the 7th district seat in the Illinois House of Representatives again in 2000, this time succeeding, unseating incumbent Wanda Sharp in the Democratic primary and winning the general election.

[13] On February 22, 2021, Yarbrough was appointed as acting Chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, after preceding chairman Mike Madigan resigned.

[10][18] She served as president of the Maywood Chamber of Commerce, and on the boards of United Way of Suburban Chicago and the Oak Park YMCA.