* It’s not often that a lower-tier statewide candidate goes viral like that - if ever. So, Sen. Villa fundraised off of it. Her text starts off with a short version of the video that I uploaded to YouTube…
Hello Rich,
This is Karina Villa. This week in my hometown of West Chicago, masked ICE agents targeted families on their way to work and school. They want us to live in fear—but we are strongest when we stay informed and protect one another.
Remember:
- Do not open your door unless ICE officers present a valid judicial warrant.
- If you need help or witness ICE activity, call the ICIRR Hotline at 1-855-435-7693 or go to https://icirr.org.
As State Senator, I’ve fought for students, workers, survivors, people with disabilities, and families struggling to get by. Now I’m running for Comptroller to make sure every tax dollar reflects our values.
Trump and his allies are targeting Illinois, but we will not back down. Our families deserve leaders willing to stand up and speak out—even when our voices shake.
I am ready to continue fighting. Will you join me in saying “this is my city” by making a contribution of $25, $50, $100 or whatever you can today to power this campaign?
Playbook received a few emails from folks offended by her pitch. “Opportunistic,” is what one reader called it.
Others say it’s just politics. “In campaigns, you have moments,” said a Chicago political consultant granted anonymity to discuss campaign strategies candidly. “You take advantage of the moments, whether they’re good or bad. You ride the wave, and sometimes the wave can propel you to where you need to go.”
It’s a familiar playbook. After the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012, Robin Kelly launched her congressional bid by putting gun violence front and center. She won the seat and is now running for U.S. Senate.
“People lean into these issues to galvanize communities for support for their respected campaigns,” the consultant added. “It happens time and time again,” whether the issue immigration or pushing back at (or supporting) President Donald Trump.
I’ve also received a couple of texts about the ad blast, with one calling it “gross.”
“I was raised in West Chicago as the proud daughter of Mexican immigrants. It was devastating to see masked agents in my community going after hardworking families and children. I have always fought to make sure families of all backgrounds, regardless of immigration status, can build a better future. That’s why I’m running for Illinois Comptroller, to keep a balanced budget and make sure every tax dollar reflects our values of dignity and fairness.
She also sent a statement from José Luis Pepe Gutiérrez, Director of Casa Michoacan DuPage…
Senator Villa has been a great ally in West Chicago and Springfield for Illinois’ immigrant community. As we continue to see the erosion of due process, federal overreach in our state, and attacks on our civil liberties, we need lawmakers like Senator Villa who are unafraid to stand up and fight alongside us. The immigrant community has a great ally in her.
People criticizing Villa for this don’t understand the moment. Like, yeah, maybe it’s not Marquis of Queensberry rules, but showy acts of resistance are effective politics right now.
Biss is doing the same thing in his congressional race. Making vids of him “fighting” for the community and then blasting them out in fundraising emails.
How is this less gross than the Dems who do absolutely nothing EXCEPT send out the fundraising texts? At least Sen Villa is walking the walk and not just texting to text.
I get texts and emails asking for money from our billionaire governor all the time, but I wonder if any in his clique find that “gross” or if it’s only when someone outside the chosen circle does fundraising that it’s bad.
If Dem primary voters are looking for fighters, this may be the winning ticket in a down ballot race. The issue is certainly less contentious than other issues some Dems are focusing on to try and sway Dem primary voters.
Is this best way to pick a comptroller? In a perfect world, no, but name ID matters and Sen Villa now has that now nationally. Can she translate that into Illinois Primary voters? Who knows?
- Blue to the Bone - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:31 am:
It’s primary season and my bet is that most of the base is paying close attention right now. Many people, myself included, are tired of seeing leadership just send scolding letters or hold hearings when we’re seeing our country become less and less democratic by the day. Seeing Senator Villa out in her community and working to protect residents is a powerful visual for whatever position she is running for.
I wish she was fundraising for legal organizations helping immigrants right now instead of her own campaign. Use the moment to sign people up for your lists but direct the money to help people.
It’s good to know the values of the people we elect. Even if it is for comptroller.
We all know that there is a staff that gets the technical work done.
Bravo for showing community-based values. For anyone claiming values are not important in this office - disenfranchised Dem candidates got us here. Do better at engaging communities.
I’d take this over a candidate that uses their babies to pretend to have values.
I have zero problem with her and political points. and I have no problem with peaceful protests. I’d prefer that ICE not go after people whose only issue is that they crossed into the U.S. illegally cause we got bigger problems to handle, actual harder criminals to get to. But people did cross in when it’s not legal. Recognize that too.
Until Citizens United is torpedoed, this is how it goes in US politics. It’s the same with gerrymandering - Dems are supposed to take the high road and not do it?
There is a viral video going around today of an ICE agent shoving Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh out of the way and on to her butt when she was outside an ICE facility. Of course the left views it as excessive force and the right cheers saying she was blocking law enforcement and deserved it. And then when Kat is attacked by someone like Laura Loomer she can put up her donation page.
I guess this is a better fight to pick than the Popeye’s boycott but I don’t know what this accomplishes in terms of actually getting ICE to back off.
Meh, I guess it is what it is. I’m not a fan of it.
I don’t recall Willie Preston fundraising from either of his “moments.”
I’m guessing her campaign team told her they were putting it up, and she went along with it.
My cynical side thinks that she or her campaign team got word this was going on, and they rushed her over to do this.
It is, however, the nature of politics today to do this.
The fact that it was filmed by a third party walking closely alongside her makes me question how much this was about resistance/warning residents and how much was for publicity. Obviously it was both, but her capitalizing on it moves the needle towards publicity.
Not that I blame her, nor is it necessarily bad or unexpected. Just a minor detraction from politics politicking, and we could certainly use more resistance even if imperfect.
It’s fair game to solicit to your existing fundraising list, but an unsolicited text blast to folks that are not on your donor/supporter list diminishes the authenticity portrayed in the video. However, Sen. Villa is lacking in money and endorsements. It would be political malpractice not to capitalize on a viral moment.
I sense that her Comptroller aspirations are an attempt to boost name ID for a future run for Congress as she consistently messages on national issues. If she loses, she keeps her seat and is in the fast lane to challenge or replace Foster or Underwood.
In regard to Kat, I’m not a fan but she’s doing a lot more than most, you for example, in response to a campaign of federal rights abuses. She didn’t pick the location of the federal detention center, who cares about the demographics of where it is located, and why does that matter?
I have no problems with Villa taking pride in a courageous act and good for her for stepping up. There is an enormous credibility gap forming between elected officials and candidates actually doing something, literally anything, in response to the attacks on residents vs the others doing zero. Margaret Croke visiting Broadview when?
- Question - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:11 am:
How does exploiting people being harassed by ice help balance budgets?
- Arsenal - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:11 am:
People criticizing Villa for this don’t understand the moment. Like, yeah, maybe it’s not Marquis of Queensberry rules, but showy acts of resistance are effective politics right now.
- Norseman - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:12 am:
Great job Senator. Glad you didn’t body slammed by the secret police.
- Melido Perez - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:19 am:
Biss is doing the same thing in his congressional race. Making vids of him “fighting” for the community and then blasting them out in fundraising emails.
- Beep booop - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:27 am:
How is this less gross than the Dems who do absolutely nothing EXCEPT send out the fundraising texts? At least Sen Villa is walking the walk and not just texting to text.
I get texts and emails asking for money from our billionaire governor all the time, but I wonder if any in his clique find that “gross” or if it’s only when someone outside the chosen circle does fundraising that it’s bad.
I’m gonna go give to her campaign right now.
- Kirsten - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:30 am:
If Dem primary voters are looking for fighters, this may be the winning ticket in a down ballot race. The issue is certainly less contentious than other issues some Dems are focusing on to try and sway Dem primary voters.
Is this best way to pick a comptroller? In a perfect world, no, but name ID matters and Sen Villa now has that now nationally. Can she translate that into Illinois Primary voters? Who knows?
- Blue to the Bone - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:31 am:
It’s primary season and my bet is that most of the base is paying close attention right now. Many people, myself included, are tired of seeing leadership just send scolding letters or hold hearings when we’re seeing our country become less and less democratic by the day. Seeing Senator Villa out in her community and working to protect residents is a powerful visual for whatever position she is running for.
- uialum - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:32 am:
I wish she was fundraising for legal organizations helping immigrants right now instead of her own campaign. Use the moment to sign people up for your lists but direct the money to help people.
- JB13 - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:32 am:
Elected officials fighting to protect people who are in the country illegally from being removed from the country.
Excellent way to raise your political profile in Illinois, I suppose
“In Illinois, we follow the law”
- King Louis XVI - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:39 am:
Her raw, unscripted instincts and courage, given that ICE agents are willing to rough up elected officials, were impressive.
I contributed.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 11:48 am:
Fair play to me to send the texts and email, but I am not more persuaded to vote for her for Comptroller personally.
- HarveyGuy - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
It’s good to know the values of the people we elect. Even if it is for comptroller.
We all know that there is a staff that gets the technical work done.
Bravo for showing community-based values. For anyone claiming values are not important in this office - disenfranchised Dem candidates got us here. Do better at engaging communities.
I’d take this over a candidate that uses their babies to pretend to have values.
- Amalia - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:07 pm:
I have zero problem with her and political points. and I have no problem with peaceful protests. I’d prefer that ICE not go after people whose only issue is that they crossed into the U.S. illegally cause we got bigger problems to handle, actual harder criminals to get to. But people did cross in when it’s not legal. Recognize that too.
- Lefty Lefty - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:07 pm:
Until Citizens United is torpedoed, this is how it goes in US politics. It’s the same with gerrymandering - Dems are supposed to take the high road and not do it?
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:11 pm:
There is a viral video going around today of an ICE agent shoving Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh out of the way and on to her butt when she was outside an ICE facility. Of course the left views it as excessive force and the right cheers saying she was blocking law enforcement and deserved it. And then when Kat is attacked by someone like Laura Loomer she can put up her donation page.
I guess this is a better fight to pick than the Popeye’s boycott but I don’t know what this accomplishes in terms of actually getting ICE to back off.
- Frida's Boss - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:22 pm:
Meh, I guess it is what it is. I’m not a fan of it.
I don’t recall Willie Preston fundraising from either of his “moments.”
I’m guessing her campaign team told her they were putting it up, and she went along with it.
My cynical side thinks that she or her campaign team got word this was going on, and they rushed her over to do this.
It is, however, the nature of politics today to do this.
- thechampaignlife - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:25 pm:
The fact that it was filmed by a third party walking closely alongside her makes me question how much this was about resistance/warning residents and how much was for publicity. Obviously it was both, but her capitalizing on it moves the needle towards publicity.
Not that I blame her, nor is it necessarily bad or unexpected. Just a minor detraction from politics politicking, and we could certainly use more resistance even if imperfect.
- rey mysteri0 - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:29 pm:
It’s fair game to solicit to your existing fundraising list, but an unsolicited text blast to folks that are not on your donor/supporter list diminishes the authenticity portrayed in the video. However, Sen. Villa is lacking in money and endorsements. It would be political malpractice not to capitalize on a viral moment.
I sense that her Comptroller aspirations are an attempt to boost name ID for a future run for Congress as she consistently messages on national issues. If she loses, she keeps her seat and is in the fast lane to challenge or replace Foster or Underwood.
- City Zen - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:35 pm:
==ICE agent shoving Congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh==
She barely knew where Evanston was just a few months ago. Now she helicopters into a predominately Black suburb for a photo op.
- low level - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:42 pm:
God Bless Her. I was going to vote for Croke but now will seriously consider Villa.
- P. - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:53 pm:
In regard to Kat, I’m not a fan but she’s doing a lot more than most, you for example, in response to a campaign of federal rights abuses. She didn’t pick the location of the federal detention center, who cares about the demographics of where it is located, and why does that matter?
I have no problems with Villa taking pride in a courageous act and good for her for stepping up. There is an enormous credibility gap forming between elected officials and candidates actually doing something, literally anything, in response to the attacks on residents vs the others doing zero. Margaret Croke visiting Broadview when?
- Ucci - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:55 pm:
Modern campaigning. Whether you like it or not
- Steve - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 12:58 pm:
-Until Citizens United is torpedoed-
Can you stop Musk and Ellison from buying TV stations? No.
- Excitable Boy - Friday, Sep 19, 25 @ 1:07 pm:
- Can you stop Musk and Ellison from buying TV stations? No. -
An administration that wants to enforce anti-trust regulations sure could. Hopefully we have one some day.