Elder is also noted for her candidacy in the 2008 Democratic primary where she challenged the party's practice of preselection in lieu of election.
[21][22][23] In November 2007, Elder announced her candidacy for the Illinois State Senate vacated seat of Carol Ronen.
[24][25] This north side district has a notorious reputation for pre-selecting its office holders rather than electing them[26] and Ronen’s resignation was timed to keep the tradition alive.
[33][34] Elder was endorsed by the Northside Chicago chapter of Democracy for America, an organization initially formed by former Howard Dean supporters which encourages grassroots Democrats to run for local, state, and federal office.,[35][36] the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization (IVI-IPO), National Organization for Women PAC, Americans for Democratic Action, the Illinois Coalition for Honest Government, but had little support from any current or past elected officials.
They faced formidable opposition from the state's powerful teachers' unions and others to secure the support needed to pass the Care of Students with Diabetes Act (P.A.