The Queens resident and Democratic Socialist is running in the June 23 Democratic primary for New York’s Senate District 12 seat, where she faces Filipino-American Assemblyman Steven Raga.
The winner of the primary will advance as the Democratic nominee in November’s general election. If elected, Kawaas would begin her term in January in Albany, the state capital.
Backed by Mamdani Movement
Raga previously supported the historic mayoral campaign of Zohran Mamdani in 2025. However, Mamdani recently endorsed Kawaas in the Senate race.
Speaking to Middle East Eye, Kawaas said Mamdani’s campaign inspired a new generation of young and progressive activists.
“Mamdani’s movement gave many people hope,” she said. “We want to build on that momentum and keep the struggle alive.”
Before winning the Democratic primary last year, Mamdani was widely viewed as a political outsider. His campaign gained attention for left-wing proposals such as rent control and free public buses. However, his outspoken support for Palestinian rights during Israel’s war in Gaza became one of the defining issues of his campaign.
A Personal Story of Immigration and Deportation
Unlike many politicians, Kawaas says she did not have to develop a position on Palestine—her own life reflects that experience.
A Palestinian immigrant displaced from her homeland, she believes community organizing and civic engagement can unite diverse communities in her adopted city.
Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Muslim communities across the United States faced heightened scrutiny and government surveillance. During that period, Kawaas’s undocumented father was arrested by immigration authorities and held in detention for nearly three years before being deported to Jordan.
One of her strongest childhood memories, she says, is watching her mother speak to her father through the glass walls of a detention center.
As President Donald Trump pursues aggressive deportation policies, Kawaas argues that many families continue to experience similar hardships.
“I don’t want anyone else to go through what we went through,” she said. “We once fought for citizenship rights. Now we are fighting against discriminatory policies such as Muslim bans and visa restrictions.”
Campaign Focused on Community Representation
Kawaas hopes to represent western Queens, one of the most diverse areas of New York City. Her district includes neighborhoods such as Astoria, Long Island City, and Sunnyside.
A longtime community organizer, Kawaas previously worked with organizations advocating for immigrant rights, language access, police reform, and social services. She has also worked with groups including Council on American-Islamic Relations and US Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
Conservative media outlets and pro-Israel advocacy groups have highlighted her affiliations with these organizations, arguing that they do not align with mainstream American values. Kawaas rejects those criticisms, emphasizing her years of grassroots work on issues ranging from addiction prevention to domestic violence awareness.
Rising Challenges for Muslim and Palestinian Activists
Kawaas is running at a time when Muslim-American organizations and Palestinian rights advocates report increasing levels of harassment and political pressure.
Recent incidents involving Palestinian activists have intensified concerns about political intimidation and threats targeting Muslim and Arab-American communities.
Despite these challenges, Kawaas says two factors motivated her candidacy: the urgency felt by activists who believe their communities are under increasing pressure, and what she sees as a broader political transformation taking place across the United States.
Growing Political Momentum
Recent elections suggest growing support for progressive and pro-Palestinian candidates.
In neighboring New Jersey, Egyptian-American surgeon Adam Hamawy recently won a Democratic primary by a wide margin, putting him in a strong position to secure a seat in Congress.
Meanwhile, progressive Pennsylvania lawmaker Chris Rabb, known for his support of Palestinian rights, also won reelection in a primary contest earlier this year.
Kawaas believes that support for Palestinian rights has become a political strength rather than a liability.
“When you speak up for Palestine,” she said, “people recognize that you are willing to speak truth to power. That is what voters expect from their elected representatives.”
High-Profile Endorsements
Although Kawaas has raised approximately $60,000 through small-dollar donations—less than her opponent—she has secured endorsements from some of the most prominent figures on the American left, including U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Rashida Tlaib, the first Palestinian-American woman elected to the U.S. Congress.
Their backing has elevated Kawaas’s profile as she seeks to make history in New York and expand Palestinian-American representation in American politics.
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