Palestinian Aber Kawas Makes History in US Elections
A new chapter has opened in US politics as Palestinian-American Muslim woman Aber Kawas secured a decisive victory in New York State Senate District 12. With the win, she became the first hijab-wearing Palestinian American to secure representation in the New York State Legislature. According to election results published by The New York Times, Kawas won nearly 75 per cent of the vote after 90 per cent of ballots had been counted. She defeated Republican candidate Han Khon To by a substantial margin. Reacting to the victory in a brief post on X, she wrote: “We made history.”
Running on the slogan “Fund Dignity, Fight Destruction”, Kawas campaigned on universal healthcare, affordable housing, fast and reliable public transport, and stronger action to tackle climate change. Her defence of immigrant rights and firm opposition to war also helped her gain popularity among younger voters. Her victory further consolidated the political influence of pro-Palestinian and progressive communities in the United States. Kawas, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), received endorsements from prominent progressive Democratic figures, including Bernie Sanders and Rashida Tlaib. Raised in an immigrant family, she was shaped by her family’s experiences of struggle. Her father’s political exile and detention helped inspire her early commitment to workers’ and immigrants’ rights. Analysts say her victory could mark a significant milestone in the growing political representation of Muslim and Palestinian Americans in the United States.
