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May 20, 2026

BREAKING NEWS: Far-Left 'Squad' Member LOSES Primary Race - Democrats Are STUNNED

BREAKING NEWS: Far-Left 'Squad' Member LOSES Primary Race - Democrats Are STUNNED

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Progressive activist and former Media Matters journalist Kat Abughazaleh lost her bid for the Democratic nomination in Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, falling short in a crowded primary field to replace retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Abughazaleh was one of 15 candidates competing for the seat after Schakowsky announced she would step down following nearly three decades in Congress. The district, which is heavily Democratic, made the primary the decisive contest.

Daniel Biss, who campaigned on a more traditional Democratic platform, won the nomination. Abughazaleh positioned her campaign as a challenge to the party’s establishment, emphasizing a younger, digital-focused approach. Abughazaleh, 26, gained national attention in left-wing circles through her online presence and advocacy. She framed her campaign as an alternative to what she described as entrenched political structures, promoting it as “a new type of Democratic campaign.” She added: “If you’re a right-wing billionaire or a member of the Democratic consultant class, this campaign isn’t for you.”

The results suggest that voters in the district continued to favor a more conventional candidate with established political experience and local ties. During the campaign, Abughazaleh also drew attention for distancing herself from party leadership. In a debate, she said she did not support Hakeem Jeffries continuing in his role, a position that resonated with some progressive activists but raised concerns among Democrats focused on party unity ahead of the midterm elections.

Her campaign also faced additional scrutiny following a federal indictment late last year related to an incident involving demonstrators and a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement vehicle outside a suburban Chicago facility. The case became a point of contention in an already competitive primary. Abughazaleh stands accused of repeatedly standing in front of federal vehicles and interfering with ICE agents during protests outside the agency’s Broadview, Ill., detention facility. She was one of six individuals charged in connection with the demonstrations, which had continued for several weeks.

The indictment, filed on October 23, alleges that Abughazaleh “physically hindered and impeded” an agent who was “forced to drive at an extremely slow speed to avoid injuring any of the conspirators.” Abughazaleh was charged along with five other individuals involved in the riots, including two other political candidates. In a video posted on X on September 26, Abughazaleh spoke about how she and other protesters obstructed a moving ICE vehicle, preventing it from advancing. “Up, up with liberation,” the group chanted as she stood at the front.

The Broadview ICE facility has been the site of repeated demonstrations and clashes involving far-left activists. Several Democratic candidates for the open House seat in Chicago — including Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss and Abughazaleh — have recorded themselves participating in protests that involved blocking ICE vehicles. Other demonstrators engaged in more aggressive actions, including throwing rocks at federal vehicles, slashing tires, and confronting agents during near-daily disturbances outside the facility. Federal officers responded with crowd-control measures such as pepper spray, tear gas, and rubber bullets, though they were initially outnumbered until additional federal personnel and National Guard reinforcements were deployed.

With the primary concluded, Biss is considered the leading candidate heading into the general election in a district that has consistently elected Democrats. The outcome highlights the challenges faced by progressive challengers seeking to displace more established figures within the Democratic Party in safe blue districts. Analysts note that the results may reflect voter preferences for candidates with broader appeal and less emphasis on intraparty conflict ahead of the midterms. The indictment added a layer of controversy to Abughazaleh’s campaign, with critics questioning the suitability of a candidate facing federal charges while seeking federal office.

The race drew national attention as a test of progressive strength in a district long represented by Schakowsky, a longtime progressive voice in Congress. Abughazaleh’s campaign emphasized issues such as economic justice, regulation of big tech, and immigration reform, while distancing from party leadership. Biss, by contrast, focused on traditional Democratic priorities and received the endorsement of Schakowsky, which provided support among established voters. The primary’s crowded field underscored the competitive nature of Democratic nominations in heavily blue areas, where the general election is often seen as a formality.

As the general election approaches, Biss is expected to face minimal opposition in the heavily Democratic district. The outcome may influence future progressive strategies in similar races, particularly regarding candidate selection, campaign messaging, and the role of legal controversies in voter decision-making. The developments also reflect broader national conversations about party unity, candidate qualifications, and the balance between progressive activism and institutional experience within the Democratic Party.

Top Democrat Is OUT - Court Just Made Its Decision and Liberals Are...

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), a longtime member of Congress, has expressed strong disappointment with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that he argues weakens protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The April ruling determined that congressional districts drawn primarily on the basis of race are unconstitutional and must be redrawn to ensure greater fairness.

Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves and GOP lawmakers in the state are now moving forward with plans to redraw congressional district boundaries, as well as state legislative and state Supreme Court districts, ahead of the 2027 election cycle. The redistricting effort is intended to bring state maps into compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision.

Thompson, who has represented his district for approximately 30 years, told local media outlet WAPT that he was “very disappointed” with the high court’s ruling. He contended that the decision grants state legislatures broader authority to redraw political maps without the stricter racial considerations previously required under the Voting Rights Act. According to Thompson, the ruling represents a step backward in voter protections.

“We have created an opportunity in the South for black, brown, and white people to vote for the candidate of their choice. All of a sudden with this Supreme Court decision, it has taken us back,” Thompson said. He added that “Black voters matter and white voters matter, but when you deprive either group of the right to participate, that should not be.”

Thompson also defended his record, stating that he represents his constituents more effectively than other members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation. “Look at my voting record, it says that I care about education, housing, and healthcare, and my vote reflects that. More so than any other member of our delegation,” he said.

Republican leaders in Mississippi have argued that the state’s Second Congressional District was gerrymandered around race and no longer meets constitutional standards under the new Supreme Court precedent. State Auditor Shad White told reporters, “Mississippi has long had a congressional district—the second congressional district—which was gerrymandered around race. And there is no reason under this new ruling for that district to exist with the lines that it currently has.”

Supporters of the Supreme Court ruling maintain that drawing districts primarily on racial lines actually undermined fair representation by granting disproportionate political influence to one ethnic group over others. They contend the decision promotes color-blind districting that better reflects overall population demographics and voter preferences.

No final maps have been approved, and the redistricting process is expected to involve public input and legislative debate in the coming months. The developments come as both parties prepare for future electoral cycles, with the changes potentially affecting long-held seats in the South.

Separately, in an unrelated case, the Supreme Court on Wednesday rejected Alabama’s attempt to execute a convicted murderer whom lower courts found to be intellectually disabled. The decision upheld prior rulings sparing Joseph Clifton Smith, who has been on death row for roughly half his life following a 1997 conviction. The case centered on standards for evaluating intellectual disability when IQ scores fall slightly above the commonly recognized threshold.

The Thompson redistricting matter remains the focus of partisan debate in Mississippi and national political circles as the 2026 midterms and subsequent cycles approach.

Top Democrat Is OUT - Court Just Made Its Decision and Liberals Are...

Washington, D.C. — Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), a longtime member of Congress, has expressed strong disappointment with a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that he argues weakens protections for minority voters under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The April ruling determined that congressional districts drawn primarily on the basis of race are unconstitutional and must be redrawn to ensure greater fairness.

Mississippi Republican Governor Tate Reeves and GOP lawmakers in the state are now moving forward with plans to redraw congressional district boundaries, as well as state legislative and state Supreme Court districts, ahead of the 2027 election cycle. The redistricting effort is intended to bring state maps into compliance with the Supreme Court’s decision.

Thompson, who has represented his district for approximately 30 years, told local media outlet WAPT that he was “very disappointed” with the high court’s ruling. He contended that the decision grants state legislatures broader authority to redraw political maps without the stricter racial considerations previously required under the Voting Rights Act. According to Thompson, the ruling represents a step backward in voter protections.

“We have created an opportunity in the South for black, brown, and white people to vote for the candidate of their choice. All of a sudden with this Supreme Court decision, it has taken us back,” Thompson said. He added that “Black voters matter and white voters matter, but when you deprive either group of the right to participate, that should not be.”

Thompson also defended his record, stating that he represents his constituents more effectively than other members of Mississippi’s congressional delegation. “Look at my voting record, it says that I care about education, housing, and healthcare, and my vote reflects that. More so than any other member of our delegation,” he said.

Republican leaders in Mississippi have argued that the state’s Second Congressional District was gerrymandered around race and no longer meets constitutional standards under the new Supreme Court precedent. State Auditor Shad White told reporters, “Mississippi has long had a congressional district—the second congressional district—which was gerrymandered around race. And there is no reason under this new ruling for that district to exist with the lines that it currently has.”

Supporters of the Supreme Court ruling maintain that drawing districts primarily on racial lines actually undermined fair representation by granting disproportionate political influence to one ethnic group over others. They contend the decision promotes color-blind districting that better reflects overall population demographics and voter preferences.

No final maps have been approved, and the redistricting process is expected to involve public input and legislative debate in the coming months. The developments come as both parties prepare for future electoral cycles, with the changes potentially affecting long-held seats in the South.

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