Aber Kawas, a Palestinian-American community organiser, has made history after winning a seat in the New York State Senate, becoming the first Palestinian American and the first Muslim woman wearing a hijab elected to the New York State Legislature. Her victory in the November 3, 2026, US elections marks a significant moment for Muslim and Palestinian-American representation in American politics. ‎ ‎Kawas won New York State Senate District 12, which covers parts of Queens and Brooklyn. According to preliminary election results reported by news organisations, she secured approximately 75% of the vote, with around 90% of ballots counted when the race was called. Following her victory, she shared a message on social media saying, “We made history.” ‎ ‎Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, to Palestinian parents, Kawas developed an interest in community work through her own family's experiences. During her childhood, her father was detained by US immigration authorities and deported to Jordan. She has spoken about how this experience affected her family and influenced her commitment to supporting immigrant communities. ‎ ‎Before entering electoral politics, Kawas spent more than 15 years working as a community organiser. Her work focused on workers' rights, immigrant protections and supporting Arab and Muslim communities. She also holds a master's degree in Islamic Liberation Theology from the University of Johannesburg in South Africa. ‎ ‎During her election campaign, Kawas focused on issues affecting New York residents, including affordable housing, healthcare, public transportation, workers' rights and immigrant protections. She received endorsements from prominent political figures, including New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib. ‎ ‎Her election is being widely recognised as a milestone for Muslim women and Palestinian Americans in public office. As a hijab-wearing Muslim woman entering the New York State Senate, Kawas will bring her own background and years of community organising experience to the state legislature. ‎ ‎Her journey from community activism to elected office highlights the growing participation of Muslim and immigrant-background communities in American public life. Disclaimer: This report is based on election coverage published on November 4, 2026, by The Business Standard, Muslim Network TV and other news organisations. Preliminary vote figures and historical firsts are presented according to the published reports. ‎#AberKawas #PalestinianAmerican #MuslimWomen #NewYork #USPolitics - @userfaysal1111