Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza announced Monday she has endorsed Holly Kim to be her successor as the state’s chief fiscal officer, choosing the Lake County treasurer over three Democratic rivals vying for their party’s nomination in the March 17 primary election.

The endorsement brings a significant boost to Kim, a Democrat from Mundelein, with just two weeks before the election, as Mendoza is considered one of the state’s most popular politicians. In 2022, she was the highest vote getter of all the state’s Democratic constitutional officers, including Gov. JB Pritzker, when they each won reelection.

“Holly brings the energy, experience and fight we need in an independent fiscal watchdog,” Mendoza said in a 43-second video released by Kim’s campaign. “I wrote the playbook on transparency and accountability in this office and I trust Holly to continue protecting you and your money.”

“At a time when dark money is trying to buy elections, Holly will work hard to earn your vote, not buy it,” Mendoza said in the clip. “Illinois is open for business, but it’s not for sale.”

Kim, Lake County’s treasurer since 2018, has previously referred to Mendoza as her “mentor,” having served on a special banking commission overseen by the comptroller’s office.

“Not only have I learned the ins and outs of the Comptroller’s office from her, but I’ve also been inspired by her leadership and her fierce independence on behalf of the taxpayers,” Kim said in a statement. “It would be my honor to continue her great work as the chief fiscal watchdog of the state.”

Some of Kim’s other endorsements include U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Deerfield, former longtime U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who is in the middle of a heated race of his own for the Democratic nomination to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District.

The state comptroller is primarily tasked with managing the state’s finances, paying its bills and ensuring the state’s payments comply with the law.

Kim is running in the Democratic primary against state Rep. Margaret Croke of Chicago, state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit of Oswego and state Sen. Karina Villa of West Chicago. Croke last month secured Pritzker’s endorsement, having served in his administration and working on his campaign.

Kim’s campaign has touted how in fiscal years 2023 and 2024, she reinvested more than $6 million of revenue generated from interest on investments in libraries, parks and schools.

But she’s also had to answer to some critics of her office. In a 2023 memo from the then-Lake County administrator, he pointed to myriad issues that included lengthy delays in publishing statutorily required reports about Lake County’s investments, which jeopardize the accuracy of the county’s fiscal standing, to failing to ensure there was enough money in an account for an employee to cash a check.

Kim told county officials at the time the reports were up to date and that her office had been “researching solutions for enhancing transparency on the investments reporting” and that the insufficient funds for the check-cashing incident was “caused by an error in another department,” according to a memo she sent to the officials. Her campaign in a statement also blamed “unexpected challenges that arose” during the COVID-19 pandemic for some of the issues in the office.

She has also prided herself as one of the first Illinois politicians to accept cryptocurrency donations, a currency known for its high volatility. But last month, the Tribune reported she invested about $8,300 in crypto donations in a crypto coin she started called CHKN token — named after her flock of chickens —-only for that investment to be worth just a little over $34 by the end of 2025, according to the Illinois State Board of Elections.

While the comptroller’s office doesn’t handle investments, Croke’s campaign questioned Kim’s fiscal judgment over the poor crypto investment. In response, Kim chalked that up as a learning experience and noted it didn’t involve any taxpayer dollars.

On the Republican side, the lone candidate for comptroller is Bryan Drew, an attorney from downstate Benton.

Mendoza, who has served as comptroller since 2016, announced last year she would be stepping down from the post, and is considering a possible Chicago mayoral run in 2027.