Palestinian-American Democrat Aber Kawas has won a seat in the New York State Senate, becoming the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature.
Kawas defeated Republican candidate Han-Khon To in the November 3 election for New York’s 12th State Senate District, which covers parts of Brooklyn and Queens.
According to unofficial results published by the New York State Board of Elections, Kawas received 47,294 votes, accounting for 70.13 per cent of the vote, while To secured 16,165 votes, or 23.97 per cent. She won by a margin of 31,129 votes, with all 150 election districts reporting.
Her victory also makes her the first hijab-wearing woman elected to the New York State Legislature.
Born and raised in Brooklyn to Palestinian parents who immigrated to the United States during the 1990s, Kawas grew up in a working-class family. Her father’s detention by US immigration authorities and subsequent deportation to Jordan during her high school years became a defining experience in her advocacy for immigrant rights.
Before entering electoral politics, Kawas spent more than 15 years working in community organising, focusing on workers’ rights, immigrant communities and Palestinian rights.
She was involved in the “Not On Our Dime” campaign, which sought to prevent New York-based non-profit organisations from funding groups supporting Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories. The proposed legislation was introduced in 2023 but did not become law.
Her campaign focused on affordable housing, universal healthcare, public transportation, climate action and immigrant rights, alongside opposition to war and support for Palestinian human rights.
Kawas received endorsements from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, US Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib.
Celebrating her victory, Kawas wrote “We made history” in a post on social media.
Her election adds to the growing representation of Palestinian-American and Muslim candidates in American politics.
