Gen Z Is Coming for Congress: Kat Abughazaleh Launches Insurgent Campaign in Illinois

Move over, Boomers—there’s a new voice crashing the gates of Congress, and she’s bringing snacks, sci-fi, and a box of tampons. On Saturday, March 29, influencer Kat Abughazaleh launches her progressive, grassroots bid for Congress in Illinois’ Ninth District with a party that’s part policy, part party, and all people-powered. The launch event kicks off at 6:30 PM at Five & Dime in Evanston, and if you’ve ever dreamed of a political campaign that treats mutual aid as core strategy—not just performative fluff—this is your moment.

Hosted by the Kat for Illinois team, the event will feature free food and drinks, and a unique admission “fee”: a box (or several) of menstrual products to support The Period Collective, a Chicago nonprofit that distributes essentials to schools, shelters, and food banks. Can’t bring one? QR codes at the door will let you donate on the spot. It’s not just a party—it’s direct action.

But who is Kat Abughazaleh, and why is she making waves before the first ballot is even cast?

Meet Kat: The No-Net-Worth, No-Nonsense Candidate

At just 26 years old, Kat Abughazaleh isn’t just younger than most members of Congress—she’s from a different planet, politically speaking. “I’m 26, I don’t have health insurance, and I’m running for Congress,” she states bluntly on her campaign website. Her net worth? “Pretty much just the laptop I bought with my entire severance when I got laid off… and my adorable cat Heater.”

In a district where the same congressional seat has been held since 1998—with no competitive primary in more than two decades—Kat is channeling generational frustration into action. “We deserve Representatives who face the same challenges we do,” she writes. “They don’t deal with out-of-pocket prescription costs or nightmarish rent hikes or existential fear about their lives in 50 years. You and I do.”

Born in 1999, Kat came of age during active shooter drills, rising tuition, and the climate crisis. She’s part of the generation that got memes instead of wealth, and she’s not content with waiting her turn. She’s fighting for anti-authoritarianism, a $25 minimum wage, universal pre-K, a federal teacher salary floor, LGBTQ+ protections, and Medicare for All—and she’s not softening the message to get media invites. “I will not abandon or demonize vulnerable groups to cater to the right, and I will not change my stances for fear of retaliation.”

Why Her Campaign Is Different

This isn’t your standard-issue campaign launch. From the start, Abughazaleh’s team is integrating mutual aid and community action into the fabric of the movement. Saturday’s event reflects that ethos: you don’t just show up to be seen—you show up to help someone in need. It’s a politics of presence, not pretense.

Even the venue reflects her style. Five & Dime’s second-floor space in downtown Evanston offers full elevator access and ADA compliance. Got accessibility questions? Her campaign urges you to reach out—they’ll work to make sure everyone can attend.

The Stakes in the Ninth

“Sorry for the history lesson,” she writes, “but like I said, we have a representation problem.” She’s not wrong. The Ninth District hasn’t had a competitive primary since the late 1990s. “The person elected in 1998 is still in office, 14 terms later.” Kat was born the year after that win. If elected, she would mark a generational sea change in leadership—and bring firsthand experience of the housing crisis, healthcare hell, and gig economy exhaustion straight to the halls of power.

She’s not shy about who she’s up against, either: “Donald Trump, tech billionaires, and the Republican Party have banded together to rapidly and illegally break this country… Their vision is fascist… I refuse to stand by as Trump and Elon Musk attack my constituents.”

Want In?

The launch party starts Saturday, March 29 at 6:30 PM at Five & Dime, 1026 Davis Street, Evanston, IL. Admission is free—with a twist: bring period products to donate to The Period Collective, or scan a code to chip in if you forget. Food and drinks are on the house, and the revolution is just getting started.

This isn’t just another campaign—it’s a warning shot. A new generation isn’t asking for permission. They are taking the mic.

To RSVP or learn more, visit https://actionnetwork.org/events/kat-for-illinois-launch-party-2.