Aber Kawas makes history with New York State Senate victory
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- Kawas secured approximately 75 percent of the vote against Republican opponent Han Khon To
- Kawas ran on an agenda prioritizing healthcare access, affordable housing, expanded public transit, climate action, and protections for immigrant communities
Democratic community organizer Aber Kawas has won election to the New York State Senate to represent District 12 in Queens, notching a landmark victory that makes her the first Palestinian American and the first hijab-wearing woman to serve in the New York State Legislature.
The New York Times projected Kawas the winner late Tuesday night after she built a commanding lead of roughly 75 percent of the vote against Republican nominee Han Khon To, with 90 percent of ballots counted.
"We made history," Kawas stated on X following the projection.
Born and raised in New York to Palestinian immigrant parents, Kawas spent over 15 years working as an organizer focused on immigrant rights, labor advocacy, and civil rights. Running under the campaign slogan "Fund dignity, fight destruction," she stated that universal healthcare, rent stabilization, expanded funding for public transit, and stronger safeguards for immigrant families facing aggressive federal policies.
Kawas's victory caps a competitive election cycle that saw her win a contested Democratic primary in June before cruising to victory in Tuesday's general election. When sworn in alongside the 2027 legislative class in Albany, she will join a small, historic cohort of Palestinian Americans serving in state-level office across the US.
