WASHINGTON — On Tuesday night, Democratic candidates associated with the progressive “Squad” experienced a complete defeat in six Illinois House primary races. This outcome signifies a setback for those hoping to steer the party leftward in the upcoming November midterms.
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) expressed satisfaction on platform X as the results emerged, stating, “Endorsements from @BernieSanders, @RoKhanna, @justicedems, and @sunrisemvmt proved to be a liability in Illinois.”
“Democratic voters opted against their extreme, anti-Israel candidates, favoring more mainstream choices. AIPAC is proud to have played a role in defeating six potential Squad members this evening!” the committee declared.
Perhaps the most significant defeat for the far-left was influencer Kat Abughazaleh’s loss to Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss in the 9th Congressional District.
Biss and Abughazaleh held many identical stances, such as wanting to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and endorsing a single-payer healthcare system.
Biss was also backed by Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairman Greg Casar (D-Texas), former CPC Chair Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
But Abughazaleh was considerably bolder in her tactics, even getting herself arrested and charged last year for trying to impede ICE during a September 2025 protest in Broadview, Ill.
The Palestinian-American Abughazaleh enjoyed the backing of Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), but it wasn’t enough to overcome Biss.
In addition to Abughazaleh, the remaining Illinois candidates targeted by AIPAC included activist Kina Collins in the 7th District; tech businessman Junaid Ahmed and Village of Hanover Park Trustee Yasmeen Bankole in the 8th District; and Skokie school board member Bushra Amiwala, who also ran in the 9th District against Biss, Abughazaleh, and 12 other Democratic candidates.
In the 9th District, AIPAC had backed state Sen. Laura Fine (D), who finished in third behind Biss and Abughazaleh.
In the 8th District, AIPAC-backed former Rep. Melissa Bean (D-Ill.), prevailed by 5.1 percentage points over Ahmed, who was backed by Warren, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), and the CPC.
In the 2nd district, Cook County Commissioner Donna Miller, also supported by AIPAC, edged out former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., with lefty state Sen. Robert Peters coming a distant third.
“The common sense wing of the Democratic Party looking pretty good tonight,” former Jill Biden spokesman Michael LaRosa, a critic of the far-left, exulted on X in response to Bean’s win.
In the Democratic Senate primary, Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton prevailed over the comparatively moderate Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.)
Stratton, who has pushed to abolish ICE and vowed to challenge Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s (D-NY) leadership status, was backed by Gov. JB Pritzker, who has attracted chatter about a potential 2028 presidential run.
