Hamawy Wins New Jersey Seat, First Muslim Egyptian American in Congress

Adam Hamawy will enter the U.S. Congress in January as the first Muslim and Egyptian American to represent New Jersey. The surgeon’s win in the 12th congressional district shifts the balance of power in the House of Representatives to the Democratic Party. Projections show Democrats controlling 250 seats, surpassing the previous Republican majority of 218.

Hamawy addressed supporters at a watch party in Princeton, New Jersey. He spoke directly to people in Gaza and Palestine, saying their smiles gave him courage and hope. He pledged to start work immediately to hold President Donald Trump accountable. Using a medical metaphor, he told the crowd, “I’m a surgeon, and I can tell you that we are going to stop the bleeding.”

The event featured visible unity among diverse groups. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Colmen introduced Hamawy and hugged him upon his arrival. Members of Jewish Voice for Peace held signs reading “Jews for Hamawy.” Hamawy noted that anti-Muslim sentiment had become open and loud during his campaign. He said his loyalty was frequently questioned, with hostility directed at his family, coworkers, and friends.

Grassroots organizers credited the pro-Palestine community for the win. Yoshi, a New Jersey volunteer, said Hamawy’s slogan of “health care not bombs” resonated with voters. He argued that organized people can beat organized money. Yoshi emphasized that the work continues as long as Gaza remains under siege, aiming to reduce taxpayer spending on war.

Campaign controversy surfaced in May when The Wall Street Journal linked Hamawy’s values to Omar Abdel Rahman, a convicted cleric known as the “Blind Sheikh.” Abdel Rahman was found guilty in 1995 of plotting to kill Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during a visit to the United Nations headquarters. He died in 2017 after serving a life sentence. Hamawy served as one of 200 witnesses in that trial, testifying that the cleric conveyed anti-American sentiment but did not explicitly detail how a murder would be carried out. He brushed off the attacks, saying he had seen much worse in his career.

Supporters see the victory as a return to working-class priorities. Nancy Sedlak of the New Jersey Education Association said she could finally breathe a little easier after a difficult decade. She hopes Hamawy will help bring back the middle class and support public education. Hamawy ran on a platform of economic justice, proposing Medicare for all, affordable housing, and stronger protections for immigrants. His foreign policy focus is on human rights rather than endless war.

Hamawy is a U.S. Army veteran who joined the National Guard to pay for college. He treated victims at Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks and later served as a combat trauma surgeon, saving the life of Senator Tammy Duckworth. Over 30 years, he has volunteered as a doctor in Sudan, Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. He served as a physician in Gaza during 2024 and 2025, providing care amid the collapse of the healthcare system.