Kat Abughazaleh Discusses Illinois 9th District Primary Loss and Mutual Aid Approach

By Ana Marie Cox

*Published: 2026-03-25*

Kat Abughazaleh, a 28-year-old content creator and activist, finished second in the Democratic primary for Illinois's 9th Congressional District on March 19, 2026, with 25.9% of the vote. Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss won the nomination with a plurality of 29.6% in a crowded field of 15 candidates, advancing to the general election in the safely Democratic district. Abughazaleh's campaign drew attention for its unconventional structure, including a mutual aid hub at its Chicago office that distributed food, clothing, books, diapers, baby formula, and Narcan to community members without requiring identification. The campaign also hosted punk shows and livestreamed fundraising appeals instead of traditional donor call time.

Abughazaleh's effort raised about $1.2 million, according to Federal Election Commission filings, and garnered support from progressive donors and online followers. However, it faced opposition spending and scrutiny. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC)-backed super PAC United Democracy Project spent over $7 million primarily targeting third-place finisher state Sen. Laura Fine, who received 20.1% of the vote, according to OpenSecrets.org data. AIPAC also allocated funds against Abughazaleh, totaling around $5 million across its groups, campaign finance records show. Biss, meanwhile, benefited from endorsements by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (the district's incumbent), Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tammy Duckworth, and labor unions, as well as his record as Evanston mayor and Illinois state senator.

Abughazaleh's campaign also drew criticism related to her October 2025 indictment as part of the "Broadview 6," charged with conspiracy and assault for allegedly impeding federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents during a 2024 protest. The charges remain pending, with a trial set for May 2026. Opponents, including Biss's campaign, highlighted the indictment in ads and mailers, questioning her judgment. Right-leaning media outlets described Abughazaleh as a "far-left influencer" and pointed to a post-election social media rant where she used profanity criticizing former President Trump and ICE. Biss's campaign did not respond to requests for comment on her model but emphasized voter priorities like affordability and public safety in victory statements.

In a post-election interview, Abughazaleh reflected on the race's financial and emotional toll. "I’ve spent most of the time since sleeping—catching up on a year of sleep," she said. "I still don’t fully know. I also have to get my affairs in order because I’m in debt. Not from the campaign itself, but from just having to balance the money aspect of existence while running for office when my job was a conflict of interest."

She highlighted the personal financial barriers to candidacy, particularly for working-class individuals. "The first thing you’re asked when you run for office is how many people can you call on day one to max out [donations] to your campaign," Abughazaleh said. "For me, that answer was zero." She noted that some contacts ended calls abruptly when she sought initial support. Abughazaleh advocated for Federal Election Commission proposals allowing candidates to use campaign funds for rent up to a limit, arguing that financial precarity discourages diverse candidates. "I don’t even understand how a parent—much less a single parent—would ever be able to run for federal office," she said. "And then if you lose, you’re in a difficult position." She linked this to Congress's demographics: the average member age of 58 compared to the U.S. median of 38, with half worth $1 million or more, per Congressional Research Service data.

Abughazaleh's campaign narrowed the gap in the final week but fell short by about 4,000 votes. She attributed the outcome partly to external spending. "With another week, that’s another week of dishonest AIPAC ads, or them straight-up advertising for my progressive opponents to split the field," she said. Biss campaign aides, however, credited their endorsements and ground game, noting turnout in Evanston and suburbs. Election analysts, including those from the Cook Political Report, described the multi-candidate race as fragmented, with no majority required for nomination under Illinois rules.

A core element of Abughazaleh's strategy was the mutual aid hub, which operated from the campaign office. "The entire front part was filled with clothes, food, Narcan, baby formula, books, diapers—anything anyone could need," she explained. Visitors, including unhoused individuals, undocumented immigrants, and low-income families, took items freely and sometimes donated in return. Mutual aid, as Abughazaleh described it, involves community members giving what they can and taking what they need, a practice common in immigrant, Black, and brown communities amid perceived barriers in government programs.

The hub's scale was limited to one location in Chicago's North Side, serving hundreds over the campaign but not district-wide. Critics, including Fine's supporters, argued it blurred lines between campaigning and social services, potentially violating IRS rules on political nonprofits; Abughazaleh's team partnered with 501(c)(3) groups to comply. Biss's campaign focused on policy forums and door-knocking, which aides said built broader coalitions.

Abughazaleh connected mutual aid to voter engagement. "A lot of people feel helpless watching our slide into fascism, and they don’t want to doomscroll," she said. Volunteers participated in park cleanups, knitting hats, and folding clothes, boosting turnout. Her campaign won outright in McHenry County—a Trump-voting area in the district's northwest—and performed strongly among young white men, minorities, low-income voters, and students, per precinct data. Overall district turnout rose 12% from 2022, though analysts attributed this to high interest in replacing Schakowsky.

Abughazaleh positioned mutual aid as a counter to scarcity-driven politics. Drawing from her reporting on extremism, she said unmet material needs fuel right-wing radicalization, where fear dominates. "Fear is playing politics on easy mode," she noted. Opponents countered that voters weighed her indictment and policy stances—such as Medicare for All and defunding police—against Biss's pragmatic record on housing and transit.

She urged other campaigns to adopt elements like mutual aid and livestreaming over call time. "Call time is the worst thing in the world—the candidates hate it, the people getting the calls hate it, and it inherently relies on wealthy donors," Abughazaleh said. Livestreams replaced it, improving her mental health; peers expressed envy. Critics noted livestreams limit reach compared to targeted calls, and her model required strong online followings, which Biss lacked but offset with establishment ties.

Abughazaleh viewed the campaign's impact as demonstrating alternatives. "Just proving that good things are possible," she said, citing the hub, punk shows, and livestreams despite establishment skepticism. The U.S. is the world's wealthiest nation, she argued, rejecting normalized suffering. Her effort inspired queries from other candidates on 501(c)(3) partnerships and accessibility.

Looking ahead, Abughazaleh plans to expand the mutual aid model nationally, potentially as a voter turnout pilot for state and local races. "A lot of people running have already reached out asking for advice," she said. On the night of the interview—her birthday—she planned karaoke with friends.

Biss, preparing for November, praised the competitive primary in a statement: "Voters sent a clear message prioritizing experience and results." Fine conceded, congratulating both finalists. The race highlighted tensions in Democratic primaries between grassroots innovation and institutional support, with Abughazaleh's second-place showing signaling potential for future runs despite legal and financial hurdles.

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