Candidate’s supporters come together to knit, crochet for people in need

Supporters of a Chicago-area congressional candidate came together Saturday not to protest, deliver handbills or install yard signs, but to knit.

People filled Democratic 9th District hopeful Kat Abughazaleh’s office in Chicago’s Rogers Park neighborhood to knit and crochet hats, gloves and scarves. The items subsequently were given away to people in need of warm gear during the cold snap.

“It has been so cold, we gave them away right away,” campaign spokesperson Ramiro Sarmiento said.

Abughazaleh, of Chicago, has been known to knit during candidate forums and other public events. But the former journalist and internet personality wasn’t at the gathering.

“Kat had forums that day, so that's where she was over the course of the knitting event,” Sarmiento said. “She was, however, participating in spirit.”

Abughazaleh is among 16 Democratic candidates in the 9th District, which includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties. Others include Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, state Sen. Laura Fine of Glenview and former FBI agent Phil Andrew of Wilmette.

Incumbent Democrat Jan Schakowsky of Evanston isn’t seeking reelection.

Four Republicans are running, too.

Abughazaleh’s enjoyment of knitting was mocked by one of the Republican candidates after a public confrontation last year.

The primary election is March 17.

Schneider cancels

U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider of Highland Park canceled a scheduled gathering with a suburban political group this past Saturday because Morgan Coghill — the Mundelein man challenging him for the Democratic nomination in the 10th District — intended to attend.

The McHenry event had been organized by Indivisible McHenry County and had been billed as a registration-required conversation with Schneider. It was not, as Coghill described it in a news release, a town-hall meeting, said Cait McNamee, a spokesperson for the Schneider campaign.

Regardless, on Friday night, Team Schneider learned Coghill had registered for the event, “effectively turning what was to be a conversation with Congressman Schneider about recent events and his votes into a debate with his opponent,” McNamee said.

On Monday, Coghill said his father and some campaign staffers planned to attend, and that they’d prepared questions as directed by the group.

Schneider’s cancellation didn’t sit well with Coghill.

“When you are a representative, it is your job to speak to the people who are your constituents. I’m not only Brad’s opponent, I’m his constituent,” Coghill said in a video released on social media. “He wimped out.”

The Schneider campaign declined to address that accusation.

An event organizer couldn’t be reached.

The 10th District includes parts of Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.

• Political Roundabout is an occasional column on campaign, legislative and political news with a suburban focus.