* Jesse Jackson Jr. is fundraising in DC as he explores running for the Illinois’ 2nd Congressional District. Politico…
* The LGBTQ+ Victory Fund has endorsed Sen. Mike Simmons for the 9th CD…
Today, LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the only national organization dedicated to electing LGBTQ+ people at all levels of government, announces its endorsement of Illinois State Senator Mike Simmons in his race to represent Illinois’ ninth Congressional District.
“Mike Simmons is a proven leader and a time-tested champion for equality and for the communities he serves. His local, state and national work has driven change for communities of color, LGBTQ+ people, working families, and more” says Evan Low, President & CEO of LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. “We urgently need Mike’s voice in the U.S. House to combat radical-right-wing politics and anti-equality policy, and we know he will be a loud and proud voice for IL-09 in Washington.”
Simmons is a history-making elected official and an award-winning public servant. He is the first LGBTQ+ person elected to the Illinois State Senate. He has a long history of fighting for LGBTQ+ and other disenfranchised communities, including work on Capitol Hill and with the Obama Foundation. As State Senator, he has worked hand-in-hand with constituents and community organizers to pass over 50 pieces of legislation.
Federal agents used pepper pellets and gas canisters to disperse protesters outside the ICE facility in Broadview on Friday, where demonstrators were attempting to block operations tied to a recent enforcement sweep. […]
Bushra Amiwala, a congressional candidate who joined the protest, said she was struck by pepper pellets while attaching signs to a security fence.
“The residue that comes up makes it incredibly difficult to breathe,” Amiwala said. “There was nothing provoked on our side. The three of us were literally signing on the fence and we were the direct targets of the shooting.”
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who was also present, said agents fired without warning.
“We were standing here with a group of people literally doing nothing,” Biss said. ” There was no disturbance. There was no chaos. There was no effort to move a car in or out. They just shot at us as though for sport. They are trying to dominate and intimidate, and we are not going to be intimidated.”
…Adding… Bushra Amiwala…
U.S. Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents fired chemical agents and pepper bullets at peaceful protesters outside a federal facility in Broadview, Illinois on Friday morning. Bushra Amiwala, the first Gen Z elected official in the country and candidate for Illinois’ 9th district, was struck by the bullets. She released the following statement:
“Everything was peaceful before the pepper bullets. I was helping people tie handwritten notes of encouragement to detainees to the fence outside.”
“Then, I heard a popping sound from the rooftop. I saw a blur of projectiles in my peripheral vision. The pepper bullets exploded in front of me. I felt the sting of chemical irritants all over my skin. It was incredibly difficult to breathe. I couldn’t stop coughing. Residue from the pellets drenched my clothing, and you could see the powder all over my hijab. Everyone was in shock. This was an unprovoked assault. They indiscriminately fired upon people on the other side of a fence.”
“ICE agents have stopped trying to justify their use of violence against peaceful protesters, against law-abiding citizens and against our local leaders. Why? Because violence is the point. Cruelty is the point. Inflicting pain upon minorities and political opponents is the point. This was never about making us safer. If ICE cared about the safety of the American people, they wouldn’t behave this way.”
* Fox Chicago also interviewed 2nd CD candidate Sen. Robert Peters outside of the Broadview ICE facility…
Friendly reminder that Dan Proft lives in Florida. His little show airs in Chicago.
And for the record, ICE is taking people from across Chicagoland—including Evanston—to this facility, which is why we need everyone to speak out about it. https://t.co/okc0U8lGO6
Early in the campaign, Abughazaleh’s relationship with former reporter Ben Collins, who became CEO of the Chicago-based satirical newspaper The Onion last year, came under the microscope. When the Chicago Tribune reported that the couple had rented an apartment for $4,000 a month when they first arrived in the city, it was a mini scandal. How dare these coastal elites splash out so extravagantly while Abughazaleh fashioned herself a woman of the people! (She acknowledges that Collins provides her a financial cushion; he’s also one of the campaign’s largest individual donors.)
The pair have since moved to a modest walk-up near Abughazaleh’s office. In an effort to prove that she’s not rich, Abughazaleh posted a photo of what she said was her checking account to social media: $4,947. She demonetized her social accounts when she started her run for office, so her only income comes from a Patreon account she set up solely to sell subscriptions for photographs of her orange cat, Heater. It brings in around $650 a month.
* Related…
* Starved Rock Media | US Senate Candidates Vying To Replace Dick Durbin Will Speak In Utica: The La Salle County Democrats are hosting a candidates forum this Saturday, headlined by candidates to replace U.S. Senator Dick Durbin. Expected to speak at Grand Bear Resort at Starved Rock are possible Durbin replacements: Illinois Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton; U.S. Representative Robin Kelly; and U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi. Also booked for the candidates forum are U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood, State Representative Ami “Murri” Briel, and candidate for U.S. Representative Paul Nolley.
Was only a matter of time when Kat Abughazaleh’s relationship with Ben Collins would be in the news. Between Collins and Abughazaleh keeping up appearances she’s not rich, to her being a native Texan & growing up in a Republican household & endorsing Marco Rubio for president in 2016 at age 17, the progressives will have plenty of negative ads with all this and more if independent polling shows her gaining real traction in the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary.
“so her only income comes from a Patreon account she set up solely to sell subscriptions for photographs of her orange cat, Heater. It brings in around $650 a month.”
Um. I wonder if those Patreon subscribers are public, because…potentially fishy?
Kat’s run for Congress is primarily an investment in her social media career. It buys her entry on the CNN/MSNBC circuit and whatever little cred that gets someone in her circles. She’ll do alright until there’s a newer Kat. And there’s always a new Kat.
I don’t know much about Abughazaleh, but the article quoted above is very negative. Maybe she’s a serious candidate, maybe not. The voters will have their say. But picking apart her income versus her partner’s seems wrong.
As a democrat, I always disliked Kat. Very definition of a carpetbagger. Has never held a job not related to politics. Which is insane considering her young age.
I for one do not like when democrats are portrayed as lazy, unemployed, and all they do every day is protest for some cause. Except, Kat’s full time job appears to be running her campaign (which she opened months before anyone else) and apparently being thrown by ICE agents.
As a resident of the 9th, I’m not currently inclined to vote for Kat in a primary (as I have previously voted for Simmons, Biss, and Huynh at various times, and don’t particularly see a reason to vote for her over any of them). But having a relationship with Collins isn’t a negative in my book. If anything it is a positive mark.
>> to her being a native Texan & growing up in a Republican household & endorsing Marco Rubio for president in 2016 at age 17
I am thinking Kat is probably crossing her fingers and devoutly hoping this is the line of attack people try against her. There are reasons to oppose her candidacy but these aren’t them.
I mean she pretty recently moved to Illinois. Chicago/Midwestern democratic politics are different than coastal dems. I’ve met Texas democrats who move up here. There politics are . . . interesting
For better and for worse, Kat is a perfect avatar for today’s young, urban, progressive base. The carpetbagging angle fits with this. Upper middle class and college educated young professionals are transient, and I don’t think the 9th district will hold that against her enough to make the difference. Smarter money is still on Biss though of course.
Yeah you are probably right. As a young, urban, progressive, I am not transient. I grew up here, got a cheap degree down south, and moved back here. Never understood the current trend to move back and forth between cities for no good reason.
Funny how it’s stated JJJ is exploring a run for Congress when he has a logo that states it and his invite says candidate. He might have to file the paperwork, but make no mistake, he’s as much exploring it as I am Squat Diddley.
- DuPage Saint - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 1:33 pm:
She makes $650 a month selling pictures of her orange cat? Rich get out those Oscar pictures and prepare to retire.
- John Lopez - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 1:39 pm:
Was only a matter of time when Kat Abughazaleh’s relationship with Ben Collins would be in the news. Between Collins and Abughazaleh keeping up appearances she’s not rich, to her being a native Texan & growing up in a Republican household & endorsing Marco Rubio for president in 2016 at age 17, the progressives will have plenty of negative ads with all this and more if independent polling shows her gaining real traction in the 9th Congressional District Democratic primary.
- hisgirlfriday - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 1:44 pm:
Find something else to do with your life, Jesse.
The Illinois Congressional delegation does not need multiple nepo babies from the same family.
- NIU Grad - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 1:46 pm:
“so her only income comes from a Patreon account she set up solely to sell subscriptions for photographs of her orange cat, Heater. It brings in around $650 a month.”
Um. I wonder if those Patreon subscribers are public, because…potentially fishy?
- Steve - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 1:54 pm:
-Find something else to do with your life, Jesse.-
The voters will decide. Politics has been a sort of family business for many. The Illinois voters , thus far, don’t seem to object too much.
- City Zen - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:05 pm:
Kat’s run for Congress is primarily an investment in her social media career. It buys her entry on the CNN/MSNBC circuit and whatever little cred that gets someone in her circles. She’ll do alright until there’s a newer Kat. And there’s always a new Kat.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:16 pm:
I don’t know much about Abughazaleh, but the article quoted above is very negative. Maybe she’s a serious candidate, maybe not. The voters will have their say. But picking apart her income versus her partner’s seems wrong.
- localgovhero - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:22 pm:
As a democrat, I always disliked Kat. Very definition of a carpetbagger. Has never held a job not related to politics. Which is insane considering her young age.
I for one do not like when democrats are portrayed as lazy, unemployed, and all they do every day is protest for some cause. Except, Kat’s full time job appears to be running her campaign (which she opened months before anyone else) and apparently being thrown by ICE agents.
- Homebody - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:23 pm:
As a resident of the 9th, I’m not currently inclined to vote for Kat in a primary (as I have previously voted for Simmons, Biss, and Huynh at various times, and don’t particularly see a reason to vote for her over any of them). But having a relationship with Collins isn’t a negative in my book. If anything it is a positive mark.
- Rich Miller - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:24 pm:
===As a democrat, I always disliked Kat===
The more the merrier, in my opinion, but it’s a tough business.
- ZC - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:26 pm:
>> to her being a native Texan & growing up in a Republican household & endorsing Marco Rubio for president in 2016 at age 17
I am thinking Kat is probably crossing her fingers and devoutly hoping this is the line of attack people try against her. There are reasons to oppose her candidacy but these aren’t them.
- localgovhero - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:31 pm:
@ZC
I mean she pretty recently moved to Illinois. Chicago/Midwestern democratic politics are different than coastal dems. I’ve met Texas democrats who move up here. There politics are . . . interesting
- I-55 Fanatic - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:31 pm:
For better and for worse, Kat is a perfect avatar for today’s young, urban, progressive base. The carpetbagging angle fits with this. Upper middle class and college educated young professionals are transient, and I don’t think the 9th district will hold that against her enough to make the difference. Smarter money is still on Biss though of course.
- Glamorous Jeanie - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:34 pm:
What’s up with Bethany Johnson’s alleged behavior towards Kat?
- localgovhero - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:46 pm:
@I-55
Yeah you are probably right. As a young, urban, progressive, I am not transient. I grew up here, got a cheap degree down south, and moved back here. Never understood the current trend to move back and forth between cities for no good reason.
Seems counterintuitive to me.
- Squat Diddley Mr. - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:54 pm:
Funny how it’s stated JJJ is exploring a run for Congress when he has a logo that states it and his invite says candidate. He might have to file the paperwork, but make no mistake, he’s as much exploring it as I am Squat Diddley.
- ArchPundit - Friday, Sep 26, 25 @ 2:54 pm:
JJJ raising campaign money after spending past campaign funds on fan memorabilia seems unwise, but what do I know.