New York, Nov. 4: Aber Kawas has won New York State Senate District 12, becoming the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature. She also becomes the first hijab wearing woman elected to the state legislature.
Kawas secured 75 per cent of the vote, with 90 per cent of ballots counted when The New York Times called the race on Tuesday, November 3. Following her victory, she wrote on X: “We made history.”
Her victory came in the 2026 US midterm elections. She had earlier won the Democratic primary in June.
Aber Kawas Campaign Focused on Social Issues
Kawas campaigned under the slogan “Fund dignity, fight destruction”. Her key priorities included affordable housing, universal healthcare and reliable public transport. She also focused on immigrant rights, climate action and opposition to war funding.
A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, Kawas received endorsements from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
Editorial note: The supplied election figures are treated as reported results. However, the available election listings do not yet independently confirm the final 75 per cent vote share. The article below retains the figures with attribution.
Kawas was born and raised in Brooklyn to Palestinian parents who immigrated to the United States during the 1990s. Her father was detained by US immigration authorities and deported during her childhood. She has described the experience as one of the deepest wounds of her life.
She graduated from the City College of New York in 2014 with a degree in International Studies. She focused on Latin American Studies.
Before entering electoral politics, Kawas spent more than 15 years in community organising. Her work covered workers’ rights, immigrant communities and Palestinian rights. She also worked with Arab and Muslim communities across New York.
During her campaign, right wing media outlets criticised her Palestinian identity and political positions. However, Kawas and her supporters rejected the criticism as an attempt to undermine her campaign.
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