First Palestinian American elected in New York talks to Al Jazeera

What the report says

Aber Kawas, described by Al Jazeera as the first Palestinian American elected in New York state, spoke to the outlet after her victory about the issues that shaped her campaign. In the interview, she said the war in Gaza and New York’s affordability crisis helped motivate her entry into politics. The report identifies her as a state senator-elect and places the conversation in the immediate aftermath of her election.

According to Al Jazeera, Kawas won with support from a grassroots campaign and the backing of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. She said she now intends to focus on the cost of living, making affordability a central part of her agenda. The article frames her win as both a political milestone for Palestinian Americans and a reflection of voter concern over everyday economic pressures.

The piece offers limited detail about the race itself, but it situates Kawas’s election within broader debates over the Gaza conflict and economic strain in New York. In general terms, local elections in the city and state have increasingly featured housing, prices and public services as major issues, and Kawas’s campaign appears to have tapped into that climate. Al Jazeera published the interview on 11 November 2026.