Abar Kawas wins New York state Senate seat, making history as first Palestinian American and first hijab-wearing woman in the legislature

Palestinian-American Abar Kawas has won a New York state Senate seat in the US midterm elections. With the victory, she has made history as the first Palestinian American and the first hijab-wearing woman to serve in New York's legislature.

According to New York Times projections, with 90 percent of votes counted, Kawas won about 75 percent of the vote against Republican candidate Han Khon Tor. She will represent New York state Senate district 12.

After her victory was confirmed late on Tuesday night (3 November), Kawas wrote on the social platform X: "We made history."

According to Middle East Eye, Kawas was born and raised in New York to a Palestinian immigrant couple. For more than 15 years she has worked as an organiser on immigrant rights, labour rights and civil rights.

She campaigned under the slogan "Fund dignity, fight destruction". Her election programme included ensuring healthcare for all, keeping rents stable, increasing funding for public transport, tackling climate change and strengthening protection for immigrant communities.

In particular, Kawas had promised protection for immigrant families facing harsh federal policies.

Her victory brings a hard-fought election cycle to an end. She won the Democratic Party primary in June after a tough contest, and then won Tuesday's general election by a large margin.

In the same midterms, according to forecasts by Reuters and US media, the Democratic Party is on course to take control of the House of Representatives in a major blow to the ruling Republican Party. Democrats have taken at least eight Republican seats in states including Kentucky, New Jersey and North Carolina.

Kawas will be sworn in with the legislature's new members in the state capital, Albany, in 2027. After taking office, she will join the small list of Palestinian American representatives elected in US states.