Gaza Medical Veteran Adam Hamawy Wins New Jersey Primary

After witnessing the war in Gaza firsthand, plastic surgeon and U.S. Army veteran Adam Hamawy has secured the Democratic nomination for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. The Egypt-born doctor, who previously served as a first responder at Ground Zero, now advances to the November general election against Republican Gregg Mele.

Hamawy’s path to the House of Representatives is built on a progressive platform that includes calls for "Medicare for All" and the dismantling of the Department of Homeland Security. His political momentum surged following his 2024 medical mission to the Palestinian enclave, an experience he brought directly to Washington lawmakers. While his testimony met with varying levels of reception on Capitol Hill, it solidified his resolve to challenge the current legislative approach to military aid and arms transfers.

His candidacy carries the weight of high-profile support, most notably from Senator Tammy Duckworth. Duckworth, whose life Hamawy helped save after her helicopter was downed in Iraq in 2004, has been a vocal ally, even assisting him when his 2024 mission faced transit blocks. Senator Bernie Sanders also provided a key endorsement in May. Despite late-campaign scrutiny regarding past associations with a convicted New Jersey religious leader, Hamawy—who maintains a private practice in Princeton—remains focused on a platform shaped by his dual background in reconstructive medicine and military service.