Kat Abughazaleh, a journalist and researcher who has spent the past several years reporting on far-right extremism, is running for Congress in Illinois’ Ninth District—one of two openly LGBTQ+ candidates seeking to succeed retiring U.S. Rep Jan Schakowsky.
The crowded Democratic primary also includes State Sen. Mike Simmons (7th District), who is the other queer candidate in the race; Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss; State Rep. Hoan Huynh; and State Sen. Laura Fine.
As the field has taken shape, Abughazaleh’s candidacy has also drawn scrutiny over her residency and ties to the district.
Abughazaleh moved to Chicago in 2024 and was living near the Ninth District at the time of her campaign announcement. She later moved into the Ninth District, where she now resides, according to her campaign.
She addressed the criticism directly in a video posted to her social media channels, pushing back on the idea that birthplace should determine political legitimacy.
“This is where I chose to live,” Abughazaleh said. “It’s not where I was born, but it’s where I’m from now. It’s where I want to be. … Young people go to places that are safer for them, places where there are more opportunities. And I want everyone to feel welcome in the political process.””
Abughazaleh said her motivation to run stems from frustration that federal leaders have not taken the far-right seriously enough, despite repeated warnings from researchers.
“I decided to run because I got sick of waiting for someone to actually do that,” she said, noting she had reported on extremist rhetoric long before the Capitol insurrection and widespread misinformation campaigns.
Abughazaleh’s campaign emphasizes grassroots infrastructure—from mutual-aid hubs to small-donor fundraising—an approach she said is well-suited to a district with a long history of neighborhood-level organizing and progressive activism. She’s positioned herself as a candidate focused on combating authoritarianism and threats to vulnerable communities.
“I am the candidate with experience fighting the right … and the only true grassroots-led candidate in my race,” Abughazaleh said.
Abughazaleh’s candidacy has also drawn national attention because she faces federal charges stemming from a protest outside a detention facility last year. She denies wrongdoing and says the prosecution is politically motivated. Abughazaleh said she believes the charges are intended to hinder her candidacy.
“They’re targeting me because they know I’ll be the most effective person in my race in resisting the Trump administration,” she said.
LGBTQ+ Issues
Abughazaleh, who is bisexual, was recently namedto the Out 100 list, something she described as both personal and symbolic of shifting cultural norms.
“It was really cool to be able to embrace that part of myself very publicly and recognize how far we’ve come,” Abughazaleh said.
Abughazaleh said her LGBTQ+ policy platform centers on federal protections.
“One of the most important things we can do right now is pass the Equality Act,” Abughazaleh said, adding that she supports amending the Civil Rights Act to include protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Abughazaleh said federal lawmakers need to explicitly counter attacks on trans people, which she described as central to a broader far-right strategy.
“We need complete solidarity with the queer—but particularly trans—community,” Abughazaleh said, advocating protections for trans youth, medical research investment and blocking state-level policies targeting trans students.
Abughazaleh also criticized Democrats who have echoed right-wing talking points on gender identity.
“We should not just call out fellow Democrats for throwing trans people under the bus … we should make them pariahs in the party if they continue to do so,” Abughazaleh said.
Broader policy platform
Abughazaleh framed her campaign around two priorities: resisting authoritarianism and ensuring what she calls “basic existence.”
She said those issues are especially relevant in the Ninth District, which includes parts of Chicago and nearby suburbs where residents continue to face rising housing costs, higher grocery prices and ongoing barriers to health care.
“Everyone deserves to be able to afford housing, groceries and health care with money left over to save and spend,” Abughazaleh said.
Abughazaleh’s platform includes universal health care, federal action to increase housing production, climate investment and protections against corporate price-gouging.
ICE and immigration
“I’m very worried that in a post-Trump world, Democrats will say, ‘Well, that was a weird dream, now let’s go back to the status quo,’” Abughazaleh said. “But the status quo wasn’t working for the rest of us.”
Abughazaleh has been active in protests calling for the abolition of ICE, and said her platform is grounded in creating pathways to citizenship, particularly for DACA recipients and immigrant workers.
“Dreamers exist at the mercy of the United States government and a bunch of people that profit off of them not being able to become citizens yet,” she said.
Abughazaleh also supports reducing the jurisdiction of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Right now they can work 100 miles from any international border … that means pretty much every major city,” Abughazaleh said. “They don’t need 100 miles. They can have five or 10.”
Abughazaleh addressed the pending federal charges stemming from the Broadview protest and characterized the case as politically motivated, saying the experience has only strengthened her resolve.
“My partner and I have been in this space for a long time, and everyone that we used to cover now runs the government,” Abughazaleh said. “I plan on winning on Election Day—and in court.”
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