A candidate backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, Aber Kawas has won the Democratic primary for a New York State Senate seat, adding to a broader wave of victories by progressive and Democratic Socialist-backed candidates across the state.
Aber Kawas secured approximately 60% of the vote in the Democratic primary for a western Queens Senate district, defeating Assemblyman Steven Raga with most precincts reporting. The victory positions Kawas as the favorite heading into the general election in the heavily Democratic district.
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Kawas’ win comes as Mamdani and candidates aligned with his progressive political movement scored several notable victories in New York’s primary elections, further strengthening the influence of Democratic Socialist-backed candidates in city and state politics.
However, the race also drew renewed attention to comments Kawas previously made about the September 11 terrorist attacks. Critics highlighted past statements in which she described 9/11 as “a terror attack that a couple of people did,” remarks that sparked controversy during the campaign.
Kawas, a Muslim civil rights advocate who has been affiliated with advocacy organizations including the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), faced attacks from opponents and conservative critics over those remarks and her broader political views.
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Her victory reflects the growing strength of progressive candidates in New York politics. Democratic Socialists of America-backed contenders performed strongly across multiple state legislative contests, with several candidates defeating establishment-backed rivals in New York City districts.
The result also reinforces Mamdani’s emergence as a political force beyond City Hall. Candidates endorsed by the mayor won numerous high-profile congressional and state legislative primaries, helping expand the influence of progressive and democratic socialist ideas within the Democratic Party. With the Democratic primary now behind her, Kawas will turn her attention to the general election as progressive organizers seek to translate primary success into long-term legislative influence in Albany.