Four “progressive,” “Squad”-backed Democrat candidates got shellacked in elections in Illinois this week.
The four — leftist propagandist Kat Abughazaleh, technology entrepreneur Junaid Ahmed, state Sen. Robert Peters, and political strategist Anthony Driver Jr. — all lost primary battles against far more moderate, common-sense Democrat candidates.
They lost despite receiving the backing and support of the Democrat Party’s notorious “Squad” of far-leftists, according to Fox News.
Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old woman of Palestinian descent who hates Israel and the rich/wealthy, was backed by “Squad” members Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar.
Kat Abughazaleh, the radical Democrat U.S. House candidate from Illinois who got tossed by ICE after obstructing officers, has LOST her primary race. pic.twitter.com/Ou23hi567S
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) March 18, 2026
Ahmed, a staunch opponent of Israel who relishes in accusing the Jewish state of committing “genocide,” was backed by Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Pramila Jayapal, in addition to Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
Peters, who supports ending cash jail and spiking the minimum wage, was backed by Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
Driver, who famously helped establish Chicago’s “first Civilian Oversight Board over its police department” (according to Patch), was backed by Rep. Pramila Jayapal.
Despite this powerhouse of endorsements, all four lost their races. Longtime Democrat strategist James Carville wasn’t surprised. Speaking with Fox News, he mocked those who believe the “progressive” left is building momentum for something big.
“What momentum?” he asked mockingly. “About 15 percent of the Democratic Party identifies themselves as progressive. And what’s unique, they win about 15 percent in the primaries at most. This was something I’ve dealt with all my life.”
“In New York, [Zohran] Mamdami got 50.5% — which is not overwhelming. That’s hardly the basis for some national movement,” he added.
Also – total waste of time to blame Sliwa. Mamdani won a majority. pic.twitter.com/PJZjIvn0xJ
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) November 5, 2025
Welcome PAC co-founder Liam Kerr is hopeful these losses give the leftist wing of the Democrat Party a wake-up call.
“Illinois is just the latest reminder that the noise machine around far-left candidates rarely translates into actual votes,” he said. “There’s a real hunger in this party to win, and the candidates who keep losing are the ones more focused on ideological performance than tried and true economic concerns.”
“The blueprint is simple: ditch the clout-chasing ideologues and invest in hard-working candidates who know their communities,” he added.
Jim Kessler, the vice president of policy at Third Way, concurred.
“Illinois delivered a cold shower to the progressive fringe in the Democratic Party,” he told Fox News. “Every winner was a mainstream Democrat. A lesson Democrats always have to relearn is that mainstream beats extreme.”
But critics like Michael Ceraso, who worked on Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2016 presidential campaign, warned folks not to underestimate “progressives,” especially since some of this week’s election winners aren’t as “moderate” as they appear.
Take Daniel Biss, the candidate who beat Abughazaleh.
“Daniel Biss is [also] a progressive,” Ceraso argued. “The dude pushed climate and building regulations in Evanston.”
I left teaching to organize against the Iraq War and fight for progressive democrats. Now, Trump has pushed America into another reckless and illegal regime change war. All people of conscience must take a clear stand: No war with Iran. pic.twitter.com/cuwXh2QKyU
— Daniel Biss (@DanielBiss) March 4, 2026
Ceraso also pointed out that a slew of other candidates who were backed by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker also won their races.
“The Illinois governor is a progressive. He backed [Lt. Gov Juliana] Stratton,” he said. “[They] increased the minimum wage, ended the sub-minimum wage for disabled people and protected reproductive care. That’s what progress means: moving toward a goal that lifts others, not protecting the status quo.”
Meanwhile, Progressive Change Campaign Committee co-founder Adam Green appeared to blame this week’s losses on the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), which he noted had focused hard on defeating the left’s lunatic fringe “progressives.”
“The real debate inside the Democratic Party is not whether progressive economic policies appeal to voters,” he said. “It is whether candidates who genuinely believe in those ideas can compete against industries willing to spend millions to co-opt that message in support of candidates who will never actually challenge power.”
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.