Aber Kawas is the first Palestinian-American elected to the New York State Legislature in the 2026 US midterm elections. She won New York State Senate District 12 and became the first Muslim woman elected to the state legislature as well.
This is a historic moment for Palestinian and Muslim communities in the U.S. political representation.
Kawas won the election on November 3, 2026 to represent District 12 in Queens, New York. According to election reports she received about 75% of the vote (90% of ballots were counted when race was called). Kawas also won the Democratic primary earlier this year.
Who Is Aber Kawas
Aber Kawas is a Brooklyn born community organiser and democratic socialist from a Palestinian immigrant family. Her parents moved to the United States from Palestine in the 1990s and she grew up in New York City.
Her personal experiences with immigration enforcement were central to her political journey. When Kawas was 16, her father was detained by US immigration authorities and deported back to Jordan.
It traumatized her family and led her to work with immigrant communities and fight for social justice.
Before entering electoral politics Kawas worked as a community organiser for more than 15 years. Her work was on workers' rights, immigration reform, police accountability and Palestinian rights. She was also associated with organisations working with Arab and Muslim communities in New York City.
Kawas went on to University of Johannesburg where she received a master’s degree in Islamic Liberation Theology. Kawas returned to New York in 2024 and continued with community organising before running for state Senate.
What Did Aber Kawas Promise During Her Campaign
Kawas ran her campaign on affordability, social welfare and immigrant rights. Housing costs, healthcare access, public transportation and workers’ protections were among the major issues she promoted while seeking support from voters.
She also campaigned for change in immigration policies and spoke out about Palestinian rights and the situation in Gaza.
Kawas was involved with Not On Our Dime campaign that prohibited New York nonprofit organizations from funding Israeli settlement activities. The campaign was created in collaboration with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
Her political campaign was supported by Mamdani, US Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib; the Democratic Socialists of America backed her as well.
Why Is Her Victory Significant
Kawas’ election is historic for Palestinian-American political representation in New York and adds to the visibility of Muslim women in American politics.
Following the announcement of her win, Kawas celebrated the result on social media with the message, "We made history."
Her journey from community organising to elected office shows how immigration experiences, local activism and social issues can shape participation in politics.
As she prepares to take her seat in the New York State Senate how she approaches the issues that were the basis of her campaign will be watched. Her election is already an important milestone in the political representation of Palestinian Americans in the U.S.
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