Democratic Socialist Aber Kawas has defeated Republican Han Khon To to win New York’s 12th State Senate District in Queens, making history as the first Palestinian American elected to the New York State Legislature and its first hijab-wearing Muslim woman.
Kawas, who received backing from Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialists of America and Sen. Bernie Sanders, has built her campaign around a progressive agenda that includes expanded public services, immigrant rights and opposition to U.S. support for Israel.
Her election is also drawing attention to past remarks and activism that have generated significant controversy, particularly comments she made about the September 11 attacks. In a resurfaced 2017 discussion, Kawas referred to the attacks as something “a couple of people did.” She later defended the remarks, saying they were taken out of context and that she was addressing the backlash and discrimination faced by Muslim Americans after 9/11…