Kat Abu-Ghazaleh Loses Illinois House Primary

Kat Abu-Ghazaleh, a left-leaning social media influencer and ex-journalist from Media Matters, did not succeed in her attempt to take over a long-held House seat in Illinois.

She was among 15 candidates vying for the Democratic nomination to replace Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who announced her retirement after nearly three decades in Congress.

Abu-Ghazaleh lost to Daniel Biss, the mayor of Evanston, who has prior experience as a state representative.

A notable aspect of this race, particularly since Schakowsky represents a solidly Democratic area, is that it has been competitive for quite some time. Abu-Ghazaleh, 26, belongs to a politically engaged group of young, leftist activists who have often criticized traditional Democratic leaders.

Her campaign emphasized a “new type of Democratic campaign,” aimed at appealing to grassroots supporters and warning that it wasn’t intended for right-wing billionaires or established Democratic consultants.

Interestingly, during a primary debate, she openly stated her disapproval of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ continued leadership, which is, maybe, a clear divergence from more moderate candidates.

Abu-Ghazaleh also faced some legal troubles. She was indicted on federal charges linked to an event where protestors allegedly attacked an ICE vehicle outside of a detention center near Chicago.

Biss, who supports Jeffries, positioned himself as a more moderate choice compared to Abu-Ghazaleh. Notably, he was the only candidate to receive backing from Schakowsky.

Previously, Biss had run for governor before becoming the mayor of Evanston; he lost that primary to the current Governor, J.B. Pritzker.

Covering parts of Chicago and the north suburbs, the 9th Congressional District holds a strong Democratic advantage, with a +19 rating from the Cook Political Report. The winner from Tuesday’s primary is expected to have a firm footing heading into the general election in November.