Daniel Biss, the mayor of Evanston, has narrowly defeated Gen-Z candidate Kat Abughazaleh in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, highlighting generational tensions within the party. Biss, 48, a former state representative and senator, leaned on his long political record and policy-driven approach.
He previously ran for governor, losing to J. B. Pritzker, and later became mayor of Evanston, where he backed progressive policies like reparations and public campaign financing. His campaign faced late scrutiny after he disclosed an “ill-advised” past relationship with a former student during his time teaching at the University of Chicago. Despite this, Biss secured support across North Shore suburbs and Democratic networks. However, this win was narrow.
Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old former journalist, has a national following for her reporting on right-wing extremism. She energized younger voters and attracted online attention. She also offered a sharp contrast to Biss while positioning the race as a choice between a new generation of political voices and an established figure. Biss now heads into November as the frontrunner in this reliably Democratic district.
