Four Democrats seeking the office of state comptroller put their pitches to the test on Tuesday at a candidate forum on Chicago’s South Side.

Some tried to flex their progressive policy muscles and others leaned into their experience to convince voters why they are the right person to manage billions of dollars of state funds annually.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza is not seeking reelection after nine years in office, creating an opportunity for a new Democrat to seek a state constitutional office for the first time since 2018.

The comptroller’s core constitutional function is to pay the state’s bills, and the race features three members of the General Assembly — Rep. Margaret Croke, D-Chicago, Rep. Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, and Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago — and Lake County Treasu

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