KAPOW emerged from Kat Abughazaleh’s 2026 congressional campaign, a people-powered effort that finished second in a 17-person Democratic primary against well-funded, establishment-backed candidates.
Instead of following a traditional politico playbook, the campaign integrated a mutual aid hub and community space directly into its organizing model from day 1. Electoral work became community work, and community work became electoral power.
While she didn't win her race, her method proved that bottom-up community organizing can challenge real power and she has now distilled what they've learned on the campaign trail into a handbook for anyone to use.
KAPOW organizes civic engagement and mutual aid into local campaigns by redirecting the immense amount of campaign money, time, and resources to:
- Meet real material needs of constituents through turning traditional campaign initiatives into donation drives, mutual aid programs, community events, and shared organizing spaces
- Engage people who have been left out of traditional politics, including many who have never volunteered, donated, or participated in a campaign before
- Increase voter turnout by showing people what politics can do for their communities, not just telling them to vote
- Build political power and community relationships that have proven to outlive Election Day
Learn more about Kapow here, and click below to download the 60-page handbook!
