USA25 June, 20263 min read
Abeer Qawas Defeats Steven Raga in New York District 12 Democratic Primary
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Abeer Qawas defeated Steven Raga in NY State Senate District 12 primary with about 60%. Palestinian American activist and DSA member, backed by Zahran Mamdani.
Qawas wins NY Senate primary
Abeer Qawas won the Democratic primary for the New York State Senate seat representing District 12 in Queens, defeating her rival Steven Raga. Near-final results described by بوابة الهدف الإخبارية put Qawas at about 60% of Democratic voters’ votes versus 40% for Raja. The race was framed as a step toward the general election scheduled for November, with District 12 described as one of the state’s leading Democratic strongholds.
The القدس العربي reported that Qawas secured about 60% of the vote in the primary and said, after results were announced, "We elected the first Palestinian American woman to the State Senate". The same outlet said Qawas is a civil rights advocate for Muslims and that she is expected to win the seat in the general election, succeeding the incumbent Democratic Senator Mike Gianaris.
Mamdani backs and attacks
New York City Mayor-elect Zahran Mamdani congratulated Qawas after her victory in the second district seat in the New York State Senate, calling her the first American of Palestinian descent to reach this position, according to his announcement on social media. In التلفزيون العربي’s account of Mamdani’s remarks, he launched a fierce attack on Israeli policies and AIPAC, asserting that the Israeli army has killed more than a thousand Palestinians since the start of what the article describes as the ceasefire agreement. Mamdani’s criticism was quoted directly as: "We are talking about an ongoing situation in which children are being killed daily, and AIPAC supports this status quo".
The القدس العربي also reported that Qawas received backing from Mamdani and from Senator Bernie Sanders, as well as from the Democratic Socialists of America and progressive lawmakers and organizations. Al Jazeera Net said Qawas ran with the support of Mamdani and became the first Palestinian Muslim to approach the centers of American decision-making, after winning the Democratic primary and securing about 60% of the vote.
Platform, ICE story, and stakes
Qawas told supporters that "This proves that another world is possible, a world in which Gaza lives in freedom" and said she would link social justice inside the United States to international issues with Palestine at the forefront.
“'My father was one of thousands of people who ended up in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, and he was deported from this country.'”
The القدس العربي reported that her platform includes "ensuring health care, affordable housing, and public transportation for all," while also including "the fight against the destruction inflicted on peoples abroad".
It also said Qawas’s personal experience included the suffering of family members with deportation procedures carried out by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and that she sought to connect the Palestine solidarity movement with issues of justice, immigration, and civil rights within the United States.
Al Jazeera Net added that Qawas told Al Jazeera: 'My father was one of thousands of people who ended up in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers, and he was deported from this country.'
The same outlet described the stakes for her candidacy as part of a political wave in New York, saying Democrats supportive of Israel are facing increasing challenges as the progressive wing gains influence within the Democratic Party and voters increase criticism of Israeli policies.