Newly minted Illinois state Sen. Natalie Toro was posing proudly for photos with Senate President Don Harmon earlier this week in a sweltering gym on Chicago’s North Side when a woman approached her and shouted a prediction: “You’re gonna lose in March!”

       The challenge came minutes after Toro secured the Senate appointment over several candidates, including Graciela Guzmán, who was backed by many of the same progressive groups and officials who helped elect Mayor Brandon Johnson. After the vote that gave Toro the win, dozens of Guzmán’s supporters vowed they’d defeat her next year when the Senate seat is up for election in the Democratic primary.

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       “We want the ballot box!” they chanted.