Aber Kawas won the Democratic Party primary in the Queens state Senate district, becoming the first Palestinian Muslim woman elected in New York State.
His campaign focused on affordability, immigration reform, and opposition to funding what he called "Israel's Gaza genocide.".
Palestinian-American Aber Kawas won the Democratic primary for a Senate seat in the Queens borough of New York on Tuesday, making her the first Palestinian Muslim woman elected to office in New York State.
Kawas, who was born and raised in New York City to Palestinian parents, ran on a platform built on democratic socialism, immigration reform, and addressing New York City's affordability crisis. His campaign also calls for ending support for what he calls "Israel's genocide in Gaza.".
The primary victory was helped by the endorsement of Zohran Mamdani, whose endorsement gave Kawas a boost to his campaign. Kawas's success joins a string of recent victories by candidates supported by Mamdani who seek to steer the Democratic Party toward a democratic socialist direction.
Kawas highlighted his role in the „Not On Our Dime!” campaign, which he launched with Mamdani, an initiative that seeks to prevent New York-based organizations from providing financial support to Israeli settlement-related activities in the occupied Palestinian territories.
According to their campaign materials, the initiative aims to end what organizers call New York's complicity in settlement expansion and violence against Palestinians. The movement also calls for an end to state funding for what it calls Israeli war crimes.
A related bill sought to amend New York's nonprofit laws, prohibiting charities from supporting Israeli settlement activities that are considered illegal under international law.
Kawas's victory reflects the growing influence of progressive and pro-Palestinian voices within the Democratic Party, particularly in New York. His success follows several high-profile primary victories by candidates supported by Mamdani, and signals the momentum of democratic socialist politics ahead of future elections.
The outcome is expected to generate national attention as debates over U.S. policy on Gaza, immigration reform, and economic affordability remain central issues in Democratic Party politics.
