Dr. Adam Hisham Hamawy, a plastic surgeon and former Army combat medic, won a crowded Democratic primary in New Jersey on Tuesday, positioning himself to likely become the next representative for a heavily Democratic congressional district.
According to The Associated Press, Hamawy emerged victorious in a 12-candidate field seeking to replace retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J. The district, which includes much of Mercer County and stretches north toward Somerville and the Plainfields, is considered safely Democratic, making Hamawy the strong favorite heading into the general election.
Hamawy, who was born in Egypt and later served in the U.S. military, entered the race with support from prominent progressive figures. His campaign received endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. Progressive commentator Hasan Piker also backed his candidacy, while a pro-Palestinian political action committee invested resources in support of his campaign.
Despite his victory, Hamawy faced scrutiny during the race over his past connections to Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, the radical cleric known as the “Blind Sheikh.” Abdel Rahman was convicted of inciting the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six people and injured more than 1,000 others. He was also convicted of involvement in plots targeting U.S. landmarks and of conspiring to assassinate former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.
Hamawy testified as a defense witness during Abdel Rahman’s 1996 trial. Critics raised questions about that role throughout the campaign, though Hamawy has maintained that he was never accused of any wrongdoing and was not charged with any crime. His campaign argued that criticism of his involvement amounted to unfair guilt by association.
Andrew McCarthy, the former federal prosecutor who led the government’s case against Abdel Rahman, said Hamawy’s testimony ultimately strengthened the prosecution’s arguments rather than helping the defense. McCarthy stated that, following cross-examination, Hamawy’s testimony contributed to evidence supporting the government’s case regarding a broader terrorism conspiracy.
Additional attention was drawn to Hamawy’s brief volunteer work in 1994 with an organization in Eastern Europe that was later linked to al Qaeda and subsequently shut down. Reports about that connection surfaced during the campaign, prompting further criticism from some political opponents.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-N.J., publicly expressed concerns about Hamawy’s past associations and called for greater clarification regarding those ties. Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, one of Hamawy’s primary opponents, characterized him as a political extremist during the campaign.
At the same time, Hamawy’s military and medical service earned praise from supporters. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., credited him with helping save her life following injuries she sustained while serving in Iraq in 2004. Hamawy has also participated in humanitarian medical missions overseas, including a 2024 trip to Gaza. Following that mission, he criticized conditions on the ground and expressed concern over the treatment of medical workers in the conflict zone.
