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Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old Democratic candidate for Illinois’ ninth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, said «every single person in the world deserves healthcare,» even illegal immigrants.
«How is it controversial?» Abughazaleh asked a CNN «NewsNight» panel on Thursday night.
The young progressive candidate, with a campaign website that reads, «I don’t have health insurance, and I’m running for Congress,» repeatedly told the panel that every person is entitled to healthcare when asked if that includes illegal immigrants.
«I’m such a monster… How is it controversial that I don’t want someone to die in the hospital if they can’t afford it?» Abughazaleh asked.
DEMS WARN HOUSE REPUBLICANS WILL PAY PRICE AT BALLOT BOX FOR PASSING TRUMP’S ‘BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL’
U.S. House candidate Kat Abughazaleh appeared on CNN’s NewsNight. (CNN/ Screenshot)
President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act is currently under consideration by a Republican-led White House and Congress. The president has championed the legislation as fulfilling his key campaign promises, including border security, American energy production and tax cuts.
House Republicans have celebrated Medicaid reform included in the megabill, which they say eliminates waste, fraud and abuse in the welfare program to deliver for Americans who need coverage most.
Removing illegal immigrants from Medicaid is one of the key provisions of that Medicaid reform.
Meanwhile, Democrats have railed against possible Medicaid cuts since Trump was elected in November. Every House Democrat voted against the bill, and Democrats are already defining Medicaid cuts as a driving issue ahead of competitive midterm elections in 2026.
The bill does not cut Medicaid for the most vulnerable, according to Rep. Erin Houchin, R-Ind., who served on three major committees leading budget markup in the reconciliation process.
Demonstrators calling for preservation of Medicaid funding, are removed from the House Energy and Commerce markup of the FY2025 budget resolution in Rayburn building on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Houchin told Fox News Digital that targeting waste, fraud and abuse in the Medicaid program cuts benefits to illegal immigrants, those ineligible to receive benefits who are currently receiving benefits, duplicate enrollees in one or more states and those who are able-bodied but are choosing not to work.
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«Your bill is going to cut coverage for 11 million Americans and it’ll still cost more than universal healthcare. Healthcare is a human right, you absolute ghouls,» Abughazaleh said in response to a Republican National Committee (RNC) rapid response account calling her comments, «madness.»
Abughazaleh said she is running for the U.S. House of Representatives because, «Our leaders are out of touch.»
The young Democrat is challenging Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., who has served decades in congress. Abughazaleh is a former staffer for the progressive watchdog group, Media Matters, and a progressive influencer.
