From Online Warrior to Congress: Her Fight Against the Far Right
▼ Summary
– Kat Abughazaleh is a 26-year-old running for Congress in Illinois who is skilled at creating viral online content but finds connecting with voters in person more challenging.
– She successfully engaged voters at a Chicago taco crawl by offering hot sauce, which prompted conversations about her policy positions and attracted supporters.
– Abughazaleh demonstrated patience and political skill by handling a condescending constituent’s criticism of her posture before engaging him on substantive issues like ICE raids.
– She represents a new wave of young, left-leaning candidates frustrated with the Democratic Party establishment and running on platforms like antiauthoritarianism.
– Political organizations supporting young progressive candidates, like Run for Something, report surging interest with over 61,000 people inquiring about running for office in 2025.
Navigating the transition from digital activism to a congressional campaign, Kat Abughazaleh is discovering that engaging voters in person requires a different skill set than building a following online. On a cloudy July afternoon in Chicago, the 26-year-old Illinois candidate faced the challenge of connecting with people more focused on finding their next taco than discussing policy. While her carefully edited videos routinely attract millions of views, capturing attention on a bustling street demanded a more tangible approach.
Her solution that day was both simple and effective: hot sauce. Drawing on her Texas upbringing, Abughazaleh set out a collection of bottles from her office, turning a simple campaign stop into an interactive experience. The table quickly became a hub of conversation, with locals asking about her support for organized labor, her primary focus on antiauthoritarianism, and even her preference for Red Rising over A Song of Ice and Fire. Supporters honked from passing cars, and with the help of a translator, she explained to a Spanish-speaking family that her campaign office also functions as a mutual aid space, stocked with free supplies and open to all, except ICE. They left with campaign stickers in hand.
The interactions weren’t all straightforward. One older man, wearing a “Make America Green Again” hat, approached after locking his bike and immediately critiqued her posture, identifying himself as a physical therapist. Abughazaleh adjusted her stance without showing irritation, skillfully steering the conversation toward substantive issues like ICE raids and Supreme Court decisions. By the end of their discussion, the man was collecting campaign literature, seemingly unconcerned that she had relaxed back into her natural slouch.
This ability to handle even condescending encounters smoothly belies the fact that this is Abughazaleh’s first run for public office. She represents a growing movement of young, left-leaning candidates who are frustrated with the Democratic establishment and eager to reshape American electoral politics. Many of these challengers are taking on incumbents who have held office longer than the newcomers have been alive. Abughazaleh’s outspoken style, evidenced by her recent arrest at a protest against an ICE detention center, resonates with voters seeking bold change. Her early slogan, “What if We Didn’t Suck?”, captures this anti-establishment energy.
This surge in youth political engagement is quantifiable. According to Amanda Litman, cofounder of Run for Something, a PAC that recruits progressive candidates for local races, over 61,000 people have expressed interest in running for office in 2025. That figure surpasses the total number of inquiries received during the first three years of Donald Trump’s presidency, signaling a significant shift in political participation among younger generations.
(Source: Wired)
