WATCH: ‘Squad’ Candidate Melts Down After Brutal Primary Loss

Kat Abughazaleh — a far-left content creator who came up short in her Democratic Party primary bid for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District — erupted into a foul-mouthed tirade following her concession speech on Tuesday night.

The district, which encompasses parts of Chicago’s North Side and northern suburbs, is currently held by retiring U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky and grades as one of the most left-leaning districts in the state. In short, the winner of the crowded Democratic Party primary will almost certainly be elected in the November elections.

With tight polling headed into the race, Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss ultimately managed to come out on top with roughly 29 percent of the vote, beating out a crowd field of 15 candidates. Abughazaleh placed second with approximately 26 percent, while State Senator Laura Fine came in third with just over 20 percent of the vote.

Other candidates, including Bushra Amiwala, received smaller shares, with Amiwala at just over 5 percent. The margin between Biss and Abughazaleh was fewer than 4,000 votes, and the field split prevented any candidate from securing a majority.

Biss speaks after “confronting” CBP Commander Greg Bovino during Operation Midway Blitz on December 17, 2025

Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old former journalist and content creator running as a first-time candidate, spoke at her campaign watch party in Andersonville following the results. “I don’t know if you heard, but we didn’t win, and it really f***ing sucks. We came really close,” the “squad-aligned” candidate told her supporters.

“We forced our opponents to the left and to be more aggressive against this administration. We did all of this together from the ground up with everything against us. We had millions in AIPAC spending, dark-money smear campaigns, institutional power tipping the scales, and we made them use their entire arsenal — s**t we’ve never even seen before — just to beat us.”

She continuously framed her performance as a win for the far-left despite coming up short. “We have to send a message to this administration, anyone who enables it — and I’m talking directly to them right now — you and your jobs are not safe. This is the start and not the end. We are not tolerating the status quo. You cannot kidnap and kill us and our neighbors, you cannot start illegal wars, you cannot trample on our rights and see our lives as a means for profit,” the far-left candidate continued to rant.

“When I said I would spend every waking moment of the rest of my life to hold this administration accountable, win or lose, I f***ing meant it, and I know all of you do too. I’m sorry that this sucks, but f**k Trump, f**k ICE, free Palestine, I love you all.”

🚨"Every single loss like this one will make the path easier for the next person. We are not done, and I'm not going anywhere…Fuck Trump, Fuck ICE, Free Palestine." -Kat Abughazaleh gives her concession speech in Illinois primary as @JTCestkowski reports ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/UqBPUjRw71

— Status Coup News (@StatusCoup) March 18, 2026

As part of her campaign, Abughazaleh frequently joined anti-ICE demonstrations outside an immigration facility in the community of Broadview. She repeatedly participated in disruptions, including one incident in which she and a number of demonstrators filmed themselves blocking an ICE vehicle.

This past October, she and five additional demonstrators were charged with conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, a felony, and forcibly impeding, intimidating or interfering with a federal officer, a misdemeanor. Specific allegations include damaging the vehicle’s side mirror and rear windshield wiper, scratching the vehicle, and etching the word “PIG” on it, as well as pushing against the SUV.

Abughazaleh and the co-defendants pleaded not guilty on November 12, 2025, in federal court in Chicago. They were released on bond pending further proceedings. The case remains ongoing as of this report.

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