Palestinian American community organiser and democratic socialist Aber Kawas has won the New York State Senate District 12 election, becoming the first Palestinian American elected to the state legislature in the November 3 US midterm elections.
Kawas secured approximately 75 per cent of the vote, with 90 per cent of ballots counted when the race was called, according to reports. She defeated Republican candidate Han-Khon To in the Queens-based constituency, marking a significant milestone for Palestinian American political representation in New York.
Celebrating her victory, Kawas wrote on social media platform X, "We made history."
The result followed her victory in the Democratic primary in June, when she secured the party's nomination with support from progressive organisations and prominent political figures, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Kawas, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), campaigned on housing affordability, workers' rights, immigration reform and Palestinian rights.
๐๐ฟ๐ผ๐บ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐บ ๐๐ผ ๐ฒ๐น๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐
Born and raised in Brooklyn to Palestinian immigrant parents, Kawas has spent more than 15 years organising campaigns focused on labour rights, immigrant communities and Palestinian advocacy.
Her political involvement has included campaigns for higher minimum wages, stronger workplace protections and reforms to immigration enforcement.
Kawas has frequently spoken about her family's experiences with the US immigration system, including her father's detention and subsequent deportation to Jordan during her high school years.
She has described these experiences as influential in shaping her political priorities, particularly her advocacy for immigrant families and opposition to policies that separate families through deportation.
Before entering electoral politics, she worked with community organisations advocating for Arab and Muslim Americans and participated in campaigns addressing discrimination and civil liberties.
Her election represents a transition from grassroots organising to legislative politics in Albany, where she will represent communities in Queens.
๐ ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ป๐ถ ๐ฏ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฐ๐ฎ๐บ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ด๐ป
Kawas received support from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, whose own political rise has been associated with the growing influence of democratic socialist candidates in the city.
Her campaign was also endorsed by US Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, a Palestinian American lawmaker.
The endorsements reflected support for her platform among progressive political organisations and elected representatives.
Kawas had secured the Democratic nomination for Senate District 12 in June, positioning herself for the November election in a constituency with a strong Democratic voter base.
Her campaign emphasised the need to address rising living costs, expand access to healthcare, strengthen public transportation and improve housing affordability.
She also advocated measures to protect immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement operations.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐น๐ฒ๐๐๐ถ๐ป๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐๐ ๐ฎ ๐ธ๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐๐๐๐ฒ
Kawas has been an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights and has criticised Israeli government policies concerning Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories.
Her campaign drew attention to the role of American institutions and financial organisations in supporting activities linked to Israeli settlements.
She was associated with the Not On Our Dime campaign, which sought to prevent New York-based nonprofit organisations from using charitable funds to support activities connected to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory.
The proposed legislation was introduced in the New York State Legislature in 2023 but did not become law.
Kawas has also participated in demonstrations opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visits to New York, including protests held during the United Nations General Assembly.
Her advocacy has attracted support from pro-Palestinian organisations while also drawing criticism from political opponents.
๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐บ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ธ๐ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐ถ๐๐บ
During her campaign, Kawas faced criticism over remarks made in a 2017 podcast discussing Islamophobia and the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Critics questioned her comments, while Kawas maintained that they had been taken out of context.
Responding to the controversy, she told Fox News Digital that she had been addressing the expectation that Muslim Americans should apologise for acts of violence with which they had no connection.
She said her remarks were intended to challenge the scapegoating of Muslim communities following the September 11 attacks.
The controversy became part of the wider debate surrounding her candidacy, particularly her positions on Palestinian rights and American foreign policy.
Despite the criticism, Kawas secured a decisive victory in the November election.
๐ก๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฐ๐
Kawas's election adds a Palestinian American representative to the New York State Legislature at a time when immigration, housing affordability and international political issues have become prominent subjects of debate.
Her victory also reflects the electoral presence of progressive candidates associated with grassroots movements and the Democratic Socialists of America.
As a state senator, Kawas is expected to pursue legislative priorities involving tenant protections, affordable housing, healthcare access and immigrant rights.
She has supported the proposed New York For All Act, which seeks to restrict cooperation between state and local government agencies and federal civil immigration enforcement authorities.
Her election follows a series of victories by candidates from minority and immigrant backgrounds in the November 2026 midterm elections.
The result marks a new chapter in Kawas's political career, bringing her years of community organising into the New York State Senate.