The race was called for the Democratic Socialists of America member after she secured 75 percent of the vote with 90 percent counted. She campaigned on the platform slogan "Fund dignity, fight destruction," targeting issues like climate action, anti-war policies, and affordable housing. Drawing on over 15 years of grassroots organizing, she has committed to passing the New York For All Act to bar state and local agencies from assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Key points
The election marks the first time a hijab-wearing Palestinian American has won a seat in…: The election marks the first time a hijab-wearing Palestinian American has won a seat in the New York State Legislature.
Kawas plans to champion the New York For All Act to formally terminate state and local co…: Kawas plans to champion the New York For All Act to formally terminate state and local cooperation with ICE.
Her transition from a grassroots organizer to a state senator reflects the growing electo…: Her transition from a grassroots organizer to a state senator reflects the growing electoral influence of the pro-Palestine movement.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
Aber Kawas has won her bid for the New York State Senate District 12 seat, taking a 75 percent share of the votes with 90 percent of the votes counted when the race was called by the New York Times.
Kawas has made history as the first hijab-wearing Palestinian American to serve in the New York State Legislature. She joins a small list of Palestinian Americans to ever be elected at the state level across the US.
"Fund dignity, fight destruction" was the slogan Kawas campaigned with. "Fund dignity" refers to her stance on healthcare for all, fast and reliable public transportation, and affordable housing. "Fight destruction" refers to her positions on stopping climate change, protecting immigrants and her "No money for war" stance.
Kawas is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, a group that has made unprecedented gains since its member Zohran Mamdani won the historic mayoral race in New York City last year.
She was among the growing slate of Democratic Socialists of America candidates that ran in this cycle.
High-profile Democrats, including former President Barack Obama, promoted the ballot initiative to counter President Donald Trump’s efforts to reshape U.S. House seats in Republican-led states. The measure directly bypasses a 2022 judicial ruling that struck down an earlier map for extreme partisan gerrymandering. Consequently, state lawmakers will operate with significantly greater latitude when drafting new federal maps ahead of the 2028 election.
Widespread dissatisfaction with Donald Trump drove major electoral shifts, as key voting blocs swung decisively toward congressional Democrats. Electorates largely cast their ballots to reject the administration's agenda, pointing to worsening economic conditions and self-serving presidential leadership. This widespread discontent translated into urgent demands for the legislative branch to impose stricter limits on executive power.
The former Atlanta mayor's breakthrough victory flips the executive office after more than two decades of Republican control, positioning her to succeed term-limited Governor Brian Kemp. Powered by a crucial base of Black voters, the result cements Georgia's ongoing transformation into a premier national battleground. She prevailed over a billionaire healthcare executive by leveraging extensive political ties from her local administration and White House service.