Just over a month after New York City Democratic Socialists of America (NYC-DSA) helped to elect Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor, the chapter is also looking to expand its presence in the state legislature. Six New York state assembly members, including Mayor-elect Mamdani, and three state senators are part of the New York State Socialists in Office Committee, a group of elected officials endorsed by NYC-DSA and Mid-Hudson Valley DSA that coordinates on policy and political fights in the legislature. Within the past month, the chapter has endorsed a number of new candidates. Aber Kawas, a Palestinian organizer running for state assembly in District 34 in Queens, has received the endorsement of NYC-DSA’s Queens branch as well as its Electoral Working Group, the first two steps to being officially endorsed by the chapter.

Kawas, who launched her campaign last week, works as the associate director of partnerships at CUNY CLEAR, which provides legal representation and support for people affected by national security and counterterrorism policies and practices. It is a continuation of her organizing in Arab and Muslim communities in New York City, which she had done previously with the Arab American Association.

She spoke with Jacobin contributor Peter Lucas about her role in helping to develop the proposed state-level legislation Not on Our Dime, which would revoke the nonprofit status of New York–based organizations that fund illegal Israeli settlements; her focus on the affordability agenda and how it connects to broader left-wing appeals; and her response to the escalating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in New York City.