Kat Abughazaleh’s punk-rock House bid

September 16, 2025

Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old Democratic congressional candidate running for Illinois' 9th District, is campaigning with an unconventional approach that emphasizes mutual aid and direct community engagement. Following her layoff from Media Matters and motivated by frustration with Democratic leadership's response to Trump, she launched her campaign on her 26th birthday with the slogan "What if we didn't suck? " Initially challenging incumbent Jan Schakowsky (who has since announced retirement), Abughazaleh represents a growing movement of young Democrats pushing for generational change and more aggressive opposition to Trump's agenda.

Who is affected

Voters in Illinois' 9th Congressional District
Young Democrats and progressives frustrated with party leadership
Transgender individuals and other marginalized communities
Working-class and middle-class constituents concerned about housing, healthcare, and groceries
Palestinian-Americans and others concerned about U.S. policy on Gaza
Democratic Party establishment and incumbent representatives facing challenges

What action is being taken

Abughazaleh is running a campaign focused on mutual aid and community resources, including free haircuts, backpack drives, and menstrual product donations
She is hosting weekly "office hours" to increase constituent access
Her campaign is organizing punk rock fundraisers and community events
She is leveraging her existing social media following to reach voters
Run for Something has seen 67,000 people sign up to explore running for office since the 2024 elections
Young progressive candidates are challenging Democratic incumbents across the country

Why it matters

Abughazaleh's campaign represents a larger movement of young Democrats frustrated with party leadership's response to Trump
Her candidacy highlights generational divides within the Democratic Party on issues ranging from economic policy to transgender rights
The campaign reflects growing discontent with Democratic leaders for "caving" to Republicans on issues like government funding
Her approach of combining economic policies with unwavering support for marginalized communities challenges the party's post-2024 election strategy
As a Palestinian-American, her candidacy brings representation to communities often excluded from political leadership
The race tests whether social media savvy and grassroots organizing can overcome traditional political advantages

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The 19th