Adam Hamawy, a 56-year-old reconstructive surgeon and US Army veteran, secured election to the House of Representatives for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District on Tuesday. His victory makes him the state’s first Muslim member of Congress and one of eight Muslim Americans elected to office that evening as Democrats gained control of both chambers of Congress.
Hamawy’s path to politics emerged from humanitarian medical work in Gaza during 2024 and 2025. He described witnessing extensive destruction during his medical missions and stated these experiences made returning to civilian life untenable. His campaign centered on a “healthcare not bombs” platform, challenging what he characterized as a system funding military operations in Gaza while Americans faced medical debt. The candidate pledged to address U.S. support for Israel’s military operations and domestic healthcare access.
The congressional race included significant controversy surrounding Hamawy’s background. Critics, including Democratic primary rival Adrian Mapp, characterized him as a “radical extremist” and highlighted his early association with Omar Abdel Rahman, a religious figure later convicted of terrorism-related charges. Hamawy, in his early twenties at the time, had attended a conference with Abdel Rahman and later served as a defense witness at his trial, which he described as fulfilling a civic obligation. The candidate condemned Abdel Rahman’s violent rhetoric and actions, while campaign representatives labeled the criticism as discriminatory.
Hamawy’s military background includes eight years of service as a U.S. Army officer and a 2004 deployment to Iraq as a combat trauma surgeon. During that deployment, he treated then-Army helicopter pilot Tammy Duckworth, who later became an Illinois senator. Duckworth credited Hamawy with saving her life and preventing further amputation after her helicopter was shot down. She endorsed his candidacy in January, praising his willingness to “speak truth to power.”
Following his election victory, Hamawy addressed supporters and spoke directly to Palestinians and Gazans, stating their resilience provided him hope to advocate for global change. He acknowledged experiencing what he described as unprecedented anti-Muslim hostility during the campaign, affecting not only his candidacy but also his family, colleagues, and friends. Hamawy emphasized that Muslims belong in American civic life and called for recognition of their place in the country’s future.
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