Aber Kawas
Won the June 23, 2026 Democratic primary
Aber Kawas is a longtime Queens community organizer and the Democratic nominee for the open NY State Senate District 12 seat, running on a platform of affordable housing, universal healthcare, immigration reform and public transit expansion.[2][3]
Positions on the issues
- SupportsLoosen zoning rules to build more housing
Supports creating a New York State Social Housing Development Authority to build more low- and moderate-income housing.[2]
- SupportsExpand public health coverage
Campaigns on universal healthcare as a core priority.[3]
- OpposesExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Campaigns on protecting immigrants and immigration reform, drawing on her own family's experience with ICE detention and deportation.[2][3]
- SupportsFaster transition away from fossil fuels
Lists stopping climate change among her campaign's core priorities.[2]
- SupportsRaise taxes on high earners or corporations
Supports taxing the wealthy as part of her campaign platform.[2]
- OpposesContinue U.S. military aid to Israel
Co-developed a campaign opposing nonprofit funding of Israeli military operations and campaigns on ending war funding.[2]
In their words — priorities
- Supports establishing a New York State Social Housing Development Authority as her primary legislative vehicle for building more low- and moderate-income housing statewide.[2]
- Campaigns on affordable housing, universal healthcare, immigration reform, expanded public transit and climate action.[3]
- Campaign platform names "Fund Dignity" priorities of healthcare for all, fast and reliable transit, and affordable housing.[2]
- Campaign platform names "Fight Destruction" priorities of stopping climate change, ending war funding, and protecting immigrants.[2]
- Supports raising taxes on the wealthy to fund state programs, describing this as central to her legislative agenda.[2]
Background
- Daughter of Palestinian refugees, born and raised in a working-class family in New York City; her father was detained and deported by ICE during her childhood.[2][3]
- Has over 15 years of community organizing experience, including work on the Fight for $15 minimum-wage campaign, police-surveillance accountability efforts, and immigration reform.[2]
- Co-developed the "Not On Our Dime" campaign, which opposes nonprofit funding of Israeli military operations, alongside then-Assemblymember Zohran Mamdani.[2][3]
- This is her first campaign for elected office.[2]