North Cook News

A progressive Democratic influencer has announced her candidacy to challenge Illinois Democratic Representative Jan Schakowsky in the state's ninth district for the upcoming midterm elections. Kat Abughazaleh, who has over 217,000 followers on TikTok, expressed the need for a generational shift in leadership within the district. Although she did not mention Schakowsky by name, the congresswoman has held her position for 14 terms.

Abughazaleh voiced concerns about current political figures, stating, "[President] Donald Trump and Elon Musk are dismantling our country piece by piece, and so many Democrats seem content to just sit back and let ‘em." She further declared her intention to run for Congress in Illinois’s 9th District.

On her campaign website, Abughazaleh criticized lawmakers like Schakowsky for being disconnected from Democratic voters. She claimed they have not faced struggles similar to those of their constituents. "We deserve Representatives who face the same challenges we do (or at least have some time in the last decade)," she said.

In response to Abughazaleh's announcement, Schakowsky welcomed the competition. "What makes our community, and our country, so great is that we welcome all voices and ideas," she said. "I have always encouraged more participation in the democratic process."

The ninth district includes areas such as Evanston, Skokie, and Niles in northern Chicago suburbs and is known for its Democratic leanings.

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