Support for Kat Abughazaleh
Kat Abughazaleh (Photo, Eliana Melmed)
From Canada, we send our unwavering support. As the MAGA poison spreads and figures like Trump embolden the far-right, your courageous stand for progressive change is vital. Your voice is a critical counterpoint, fighting for true democratic values and resisting authoritarianism.
We stand with you,
FASCISMWATCH
How to Support Kat Abughazaleh
If you'd like to support Kat's campaign and work, here are some ways you can do so:
- Donate to her campaign: Find donation links on her official website, "KAT FOR ILLINOIS."
- Official Website:
https://www.katforillinois.com/
- Official Website:
- Engage with her content: Follow and share her posts on social media.
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@katmabu
- X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Katabughazaleh
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kabughazaleh
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/katmabu.bsky.social
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@katmabu
- Volunteer for her campaign: Kat's campaign is grassroots and people-powered, so volunteer opportunities are definitely available. If you're in Illinois' 9th Congressional District or can help remotely, check her website for specific roles and how to sign up.
- Spread the word: Talk to your network about Kat and her platform.
- Listen to her interviews: Gain deeper insights into her vision by listening to her appearances on various podcasts and news outlets.
Campaign Information
- Congressional District: Kat Abughazaleh is running for Illinois' 9th Congressional District, which includes parts of Chicago, Evanston, and Glenview.
- Political Party: Democratic Party.
- Key Issues/Movement: Her campaign emphasizes Progressivism, focusing on issues like affordability and healthcare, aiming to challenge the political establishment. She has stated her campaign rejects corporate donations and the influence of the ultra-wealthy, relying on grassroots donors. This includes not being sponsored by Israeli lobbies or organizations like AIPAC.
- Caucuses: While not yet in Congress, her platform aligns with the progressive movement.
- Election Day: The General Election for this seat will occur on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
- How to Vote: Residents of Illinois' 9th Congressional District can typically cast their vote in several ways for the 2026 election:
- Mail-in Ballot: Voters can request a vote-by-mail ballot.
- Early Voting: Early voting centers are usually available in the weeks leading up to Election Day.
- Election Day Polling Places: On November 3, 2026, voters can cast their ballot at their assigned polling place within their precinct. To find specific polling locations, registration status, and deadlines for mail-in ballots or early voting, residents should consult the Illinois State Board of Elections website or their local county election authority (e.g., Chicago Board of Election Commissioners, Cook County Clerk) closer to the election date.
Kat Abughazaleh's Career Highlights
Prior to her congressional bid, Kat Abughazaleh worked as a researcher and journalist, notably as a senior video producer for Media Matters for America, a progressive media watchdog group. She gained significant recognition for her viral social media content, particularly on TikTok and X, where she analyzed and critiqued right-wing media.
Latest articles
https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/kat-abughazaleh-interview-congress-campaign/
https://www.chicagomag.com/chicago-magazine/june-july-2025/the-tiktok-candidate/
https://www.newarab.com/news/palestinian-american-influencer-abughazaleh-aims-us-congress
Financial Disclosures
For Kat Abughazaleh (as of Q1 2025 campaign finance reports, covering March 24-31, 2025):
- Total Receipts: $378,596.14
- Total Contributions: $378,596.14 (entirely from individual donors, no PACs)
- Total Disbursements: $14,986.01
- Ending Cash on Hand: $363,610.13
- Debts/Loans Owed: $0.00
- Her campaign states it relies on grassroots donors and rejects corporate donations and the influence of the ultra-wealthy.
For Jan Schakowsky (as of 2018 Personal Financial Disclosure & Q1 2025 campaign finance reports):
- Estimated Net Worth (2018): $258,036 to $1,239,998 (OpenSecrets.org)
- Assets (2018): OpenSecrets reported 24 assets totaling $358,036 to $1,270,000, including mutual funds and checking accounts.
- Liabilities (2018): Reported 7 liabilities totaling $745,007 to $1,650,000.
- Total Campaign Receipts (Q1 2025): Approximately $213,041, with $150,028 from individuals and $62,801 from political action committees (PACs) (e.g., Allstate Corp., Verizon, American Federation of Teachers, American Nurses Association).
- Pro-Israel Lobby Funding: According to OpenSecrets.org, Representative Jan Schakowsky has received approximately $741,990 from the "Pro-Israel" industry category (including contributions from individuals and PACs like AIPAC) over her career (1997-2024 election cycles).
- Total Campaign Disbursements (Q1 2025): Approximately $183,612.
- Ending Campaign Cash on Hand (Q1 2025): Approximately $877,403.
About Jan Schakowsky (Currently Holding Office)
Representative Jan Schakowsky is the representative currently holding office for Illinois' 9th Congressional District and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
- Entry to Office & Roles: Schakowsky first took office on January 3, 1999. Since then, she has served in various capacities, including as a Chief Deputy Whip and as a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, and also serves on the Environment and Oversight & Investigations Subcommittees.
- Comments about Joel Pollak (2015): Schakowsky faced criticism and later apologized for referring to her political rival, Joel Pollak, as a "Jewish, Orthodox, Tea Party Republican" at a J Street event, which was perceived by some as an affront to the Orthodox community.
- Husband's Legal Issues and Project Veritas Accusations (2016): Her husband, political consultant Robert Creamer, was convicted of bank fraud and a tax violation in 2006. In 2016, Project Veritas Action released undercover videos that appeared to show Creamer discussing voter fraud and inciting violence at Trump rallies. While Schakowsky dismissed these as a "manufactured and non-existent 'scandal'" from a "discredited source" (Project Veritas), the incident led to calls for her resignation from her Republican opponent at the time.
- "Progressive Except for Palestine" Criticism: She has been a target of protests and criticism from Palestinian rights advocates, particularly the US Palestinian Community Network (USPCN), who argue that her support for Israel contradicts a truly progressive stance and have called for her to recognize what they term the "racism and white supremacy of the state of Israel."
2024 General Election & Upcoming Open Seat
- In the November 5, 2024, General Election for Illinois' 9th Congressional District, Jan Schakowsky (D) successfully won re-election, defeating Seth Alan Cohen (R).
- Note on Upcoming Election: Representative Jan Schakowsky announced on May 5, 2025, that she will not be seeking re-election at the end of her current term in 2026. This means Kat Abughazaleh is now running for an open seat in the upcoming 2026 election cycle, which may feature other Democratic and Republican primary candidates.
The fight for true democracy and a just society hinges on participation. Make your voice heard at the ballot box on November 3, 2026. Your vote is your power.
Sources Used
To compile this report, information was drawn from a variety of reputable sources, including:
- Official Campaign Websites: Such as "KAT FOR ILLINOIS."
- Federal Election Commission (FEC.gov): For detailed campaign finance data, including contributions and disbursements.
- OpenSecrets.org (Center for Responsive Politics): A non-partisan research group tracking money in U.S. politics, providing data on campaign finance, lobbying, and personal financial disclosures.
- Ballotpedia.org: A non-profit, non-partisan online encyclopedia of American politics and elections, offering information on election results, candidates, and ballot measures.
- Illinois State Board of Elections: For official state-level election and voting information specific to Illinois.
- Major News Outlets: Including, but not limited to, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Politico, The Hill, Roll Call, and Jewish Insider, for reporting on political events, candidate statements, and controversies.
- Congressional Websites (e.g., House.gov): For official biographical information, legislative roles, and press releases from sitting members of Congress.
* Social Media Platforms: Direct public content from platforms such as TikTok, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, Bluesky, and YouTube for candidate engagement and public statements.
- Human Rights Organizations: Such as Human Rights Watch (HRW), Amnesty International, B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), for their reports and documentation on human rights issues and conflict analysis relevant to the broader context of political discussions.
A.I. content orchestrator : FASCISMWATCH
https://bsky.app/profile/fascismwatch.bsky.social
https://youtube.com/@fascismwatch
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