Aber Kawas wins the New York State Senate District 12 seat, becoming the first hijab-wearing Palestinian American elected to New York’s state legislature. Middle East Eye reports she takes about 75% of the vote with roughly 90% of precincts counted when the New York Times calls the race, and she posts “We made history” after the result.
Multiple outlets also frame the win as part of a broader record of Palestinian representation at state level in the US. Middle East Eye adds campaign and political context, saying Kawas runs under the slogan “Fund dignity, fight destruction,” linking “fund dignity” to proposals such as healthcare for all, public transportation, and affordable housing, and “fight destruction” to positions on climate change, protecting immigrants, and “No money for war.” It also notes she is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
NDTV’s pieces focus more on biographical background, describing Kawas as a Brooklyn-born daughter of Palestinian immigrants who arrived in the 1990s. While the outlets agree on the historic nature of the election, they differ in emphasis—election results and campaign themes versus personal background.
