Aber Kawas becomes first Palestinian-American elected to New York State Senate, defeats Republican Han-Khon To

Aber Kawas has won a seat in the New York State Senate, becoming the first hijab-wearing Palestinian-American woman elected to the state legislature, according to reports and election results. Aber Kawas defeated Republican Han-Khon To to win New York’s 12th Senate District, becoming the first hijab-wearing Palestinian American woman elected to the state legislature.

(Bloomberg)Kawas, a Democratic candidate and member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), defeated Republican candidate Han-Khon To in the November 3 general election for State Senate District 12, which covers several neighbourhoods in Queens, New York.

The seat became open after Democratic Senator Michael Gianaris left office in August 2026. Kawas had earlier secured the Democratic nomination by defeating incumbent Assemblymember Steven Raga in the June 23 Democratic primary.

Kawas' victory represents a significant milestone for Palestinian American political representation and adds another progressive voice to the New York State Legislature. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Palestinian parents who immigrated to the United States during the 1990s, Kawas grew up in a working-class family.

Her political outlook was strongly influenced by her family's experience with the US immigration system. During her high school years, her father was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and subsequently deported to Jordan.

The experience profoundly affected her family and shaped her views on immigration, family separation and the treatment of immigrant communities. Kawas has said that these experiences motivated her to organise for the rights of working-class families and communities facing economic and social inequalities.

Before entering electoral politics, she spent more than 15 years organising campaigns around workers' rights, immigration reform, minimum-wage increases and police accountability. Kawas has been an outspoken advocate for Palestinian rights and has participated in campaigns challenging US-based financial and institutional support for Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

One of her prominent initiatives was the Not On Our Dime! campaign, which sought to prevent New York-based nonprofit organisations from using their tax-exempt status to finance groups supporting Israeli settlements. The proposed legislation, introduced in the New York State Legislature in 2023, did not become law.

She also participated in demonstrations opposing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visits to New York, including protests surrounding his arrival for the United Nations General Assembly. Kawas was among activists arrested during one such demonstration.

Her activism has also extended to opposition to police surveillance arrangements. She challenged a proposed $750,000 surveillance deal between the New York Police Department and Israeli technology company Cognyte, raising concerns about surveillance technology and civil liberties.

Immigration reform has been another central issue in Kawas's political activism. Drawing on her family's experience, she has campaigned against cooperation between local and state authorities and federal immigration enforcement agencies.

She has supported legislative efforts to restrict the involvement of New York government agencies in federal civil immigration enforcement.