Republican Candidate Confronts Democratic Rival with Prison-Themed Gift

At a recent campaign event in Northbrook, Illinois, Republican congressional candidate Rocio Cleveland presented a prison-themed gift bag to her Democratic opponent, Kat Abughazaleh, who is currently facing federal indictment. This unusual confrontation occurred during a meet-and-greet at the Tikvah Center for Jewish Recovery and Healing on Sunday, showcasing the increasingly contentious nature of the race for the 9th District seat.

Cleveland handed Abughazaleh a small, red bag that contained a toothbrush, which she stated the candidate would need “once you are in prison … to protect yourself.” This remark referenced the potential for inmates to use sharpened toothbrushes as weapons. Abughazaleh, along with five other individuals, was indicted last month on charges of conspiracy and assault related to a protest against immigration policies outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Broadview.

The charges have been described by the defendants as an infringement on their First Amendment rights, and they pleaded not guilty last week. Cleveland’s gift bag also included various items, such as food and a bottle that she claimed contained holy water. She suggested that, as a Palestinian American, Abughazaleh “needs to be baptized,” adding, “I think you need it because it just seems like you’re possessed.” Abughazaleh declined to accept the bag, prompting Cleveland to repack the items and tell her, “I’ll be praying for you.”

Cleveland later shared a video of the incident on social media, which has since drawn significant attention. Sam Weinberg, Abughazaleh’s campaign manager, criticized the act as a “weaponization and perversion of the Christian faith against a non-Christian for political purposes.” He added that while Abughazaleh is vocal about her Palestinian heritage, she was raised in an interfaith household and does not identify with any specific religious denomination.

The event was sponsored by the Chicago Jewish Alliance, which has expressed disapproval of Cleveland’s actions. Group President Daniel Schwartz stated that the encounter did not reflect the spirit of the evening, which aimed to foster dialogue and engagement among candidates and constituents. He emphasized that attendees came to learn and ask questions about their potential representatives.

More than a dozen candidates participated in the forum, following the announcement that longstanding U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky would not seek reelection for the seat she has held since 1999. As a result, a competitive field of 21 candidates is vying for the Democratic and Republican primaries set for March 17, 2026. Abughazaleh is among 17 Democratic contenders, while Cleveland is one of four Republican candidates.

The incident has drawn further criticism from fellow candidates. Bushra Amiwala, a Democratic candidate from Skokie, described Cleveland’s actions as “insensitive at best and malicious at worst.” She expressed her dismay that such an event would occur during what was meant to be a civil discussion regarding the district’s future.

Although he was not present at the event, Republican candidate John Elleson condemned Cleveland’s behavior, stating that her use of religious cliches to attack Abughazaleh was inappropriate and unbecoming of a candidate.

The 9th District encompasses parts of Cook, Lake, and McHenry counties, making the upcoming election particularly significant for local constituents. As candidates prepare for the primaries, events like this one underscore the high stakes and tensions inherent in the political landscape leading up to the election.