NY State Senate · District 12

Western and Northwestern Queens, including Astoria, Long Island City, Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights and parts of Elmhurst.

General election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

RESULT · UNOFFICIAL UNTIL CERTIFIED

Aber Kawas, projected winner

Candidate	Votes	Share
Aber Kawas	47,291	74.3%
Han Khon To	16,161	25.4%

As of November 9. Winners take office next year. Counts can change until states certify. Ballotpedia ↗Wikipedia ↗

Sources re-checked September 25, 2026 · How we research

This is an open seat: incumbent Michael Gianaris did not file for re-election to the Senate. Aber Kawas defeated Assemblymember Steven Raga 60.2%–39.4% in the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary to become the Democratic and Working Families Party nominee; Han Khon To advanced from the Republican primary without appearing on the ballot.[1]

On the November 3 ballot · 2 candidates

Aber KawasDPROJECTED WINNERFull profile →Han Khon ToRFull profile →

Issue evidence — side by side

Recorded votes, documented positions and candidates’ own words are shown with sources. “In their own words” quotes a candidate on the topic without inferring a stance. Votes describe specific bills or motions; they do not establish overall support or opposition to a broad issue. A dash means our research has no evidence on that topic, not that the candidate has no position.

Expand immigration enforcement and deportations

Aber Kawas
Opposes[2][3]
Campaigns on protecting immigrants and immigration reform, drawing on her own family's experience with ICE detention and deportation.
Han Khon To
Supports[4]
Supports deportation of undocumented immigrants, per campaign materials distributed at a 2024 forum.

Loosen zoning rules to build more housing

Aber Kawas
Supports[2]
Supports creating a New York State Social Housing Development Authority to build more low- and moderate-income housing.
Han Khon To
—

Raise taxes on high earners or corporations

Aber Kawas
Supports[2]
Supports taxing the wealthy as part of her campaign platform.
Han Khon To
—

Expand public health coverage

Aber Kawas
Supports[3]
Campaigns on universal healthcare as a core priority.
Han Khon To
—

Faster transition away from fossil fuels

Aber Kawas
Supports[2]
Lists stopping climate change among her campaign's core priorities.
Han Khon To
Opposes[4]
Opposes a transition that relies solely on solar energy, favoring continued reliance on gas-powered energy alongside it.

Increase police funding and staffing

Aber Kawas
—
Han Khon To
Supports[4]
Supports increased funding for law enforcement, per campaign materials distributed at a 2024 forum.

Continue U.S. military aid to Israel

Aber Kawas
Opposes[2]
Co-developed a campaign opposing nonprofit funding of Israeli military operations and campaigns on ending war funding.
Han Khon To
—

ISSUE	Aber Kawas D	Han Khon To R
Expand immigration enforcement and deportations	Opposes[2][3] Campaigns on protecting immigrants and immigration reform, drawing on her own family's experience with ICE detention and deportation.	Supports[4] Supports deportation of undocumented immigrants, per campaign materials distributed at a 2024 forum.
Loosen zoning rules to build more housing	Supports[2] Supports creating a New York State Social Housing Development Authority to build more low- and moderate-income housing.	—
Raise taxes on high earners or corporations	Supports[2] Supports taxing the wealthy as part of her campaign platform.	—
Expand public health coverage	Supports[3] Campaigns on universal healthcare as a core priority.	—
Faster transition away from fossil fuels	Supports[2] Lists stopping climate change among her campaign's core priorities.	Opposes[4] Opposes a transition that relies solely on solar energy, favoring continued reliance on gas-powered energy alongside it.
Increase police funding and staffing	—	Supports[4] Supports increased funding for law enforcement, per campaign materials distributed at a 2024 forum.
Continue U.S. military aid to Israel	Opposes[2] Co-developed a campaign opposing nonprofit funding of Israeli military operations and campaigns on ending war funding.	—

Research notes & limits

Han Khon To has no known campaign website or Ballotpedia Candidate Connection response for 2026; his positions here are drawn from a 2024 candidate forum (same seat) and background from the same news report and Ballotpedia, the best sources found.

Sources · 13

Researched 2026-09-25. Green citations are official government records.

1.New York State Senate District 12 · Ballotpedia · 2026-09-25 Reference
2.Aber Kawas for State Senate | District 12 · Aber Kawas campaign Candidate's own words
3.Meet Aber Kawas, DSA-Backed Palestinian American Who Won New York State Senate Primary · Democracy Now! · 2026-06-30 News report
4.Republican candidates vie against Democratic incumbents at Ridgewood election forum · QNS · 2024-10 News report
5.Aber Kawas for State Senate | District 12 · Aber Kawas campaign Candidate's own words
6.Meet Aber Kawas, DSA-Backed Palestinian American Who Won New York State Senate Primary · Democracy Now! · 2026-06-30 News report
7.Kawas, González-Rojas, Addabbo among winners in Queens state Senate primary races · QNS News report
8.New York State Senate District 12 election results 2026 · Ballotpedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
9.New York State Senate election results 2026 · Wikipedia · 2026-11-09 Reference
10.Republican candidates vie against Democratic incumbents at Ridgewood election forum · QNS · 2024-10 News report
11.Han Khon To · Ballotpedia Reference
12.NY State Senate · District 12 results 2026 · Ballotpedia Reference
13.NY State Senate · District 12 results 2026 · Wikipedia · 2026-11-09 Reference