Adam Hamawy won the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District on June 2, 2026, beating 11 other candidates in a heavily Democratic area considered a safe seat for the party [1, 2, 3]. He is expected to face Republican Gregg Mele in the November 3 midterm election [4, 5, 2, 3].

Hamawy, 56, is a plastic surgeon, former US Army combat surgeon, and medical humanitarian who volunteered in conflict zones including Gaza in 2024, where he described the Israeli war as genocidal after witnessing severe casualties and amputations [4, 5]. He said, “I could only define it as a genocide because I saw the bodies of the people that came in. And it wasn’t an accident. You can’t have an accident every single day for three years” [5].

Born in Egypt and raised in the US, Hamawy has worked for nearly 20 years in war and disaster relief. He told lawmakers, “This is real. This isn’t fake news. This isn’t just on social media. I’ve experienced it” [4].

Hamawy’s victory drew endorsements from progressive figures like Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Twitch streamer Hasan Piker [2, 6]. However, his campaign has faced intense scrutiny over his 1996 testimony as a defense witness for Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, convicted for inciting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed 6 people [2, 6, 3].

Critics say his past links raise questions about his suitability for Congress. Michael Macko, son of a 1993 WTC bombing victim, said, “It’s just so disappointing… that this is the best candidate that we can come up with” [6]. Rep. Michael Lawler, Republican and chair of the House Foreign Affairs Middle East Subcommittee, announced plans to seek a full congressional investigation into Hamawy's background. Lawler said, “Adam Hamawy was a defense witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman ... and a year earlier volunteered in Bosnia with an organization the U.S. Treasury designated a financier of terrorism ... He has never answered for any of it” [3].

Supporters argue Hamawy’s testimony actually helped the prosecution’s case and deny any wrongdoing. Hamawy calls the attacks “guilt-by-association” shaming and stresses he was never charged with any crime [2, 6, 3].

The 12th District is a Democratic stronghold, making Hamawy the likely winner in November against Mele [4, 5, 2, 3]. The general election is scheduled for November 3, 2026.