Adam Hamawy becomes New Jersey’s first Muslim congressman
Washington: Egyptian-American surgeon Adam Hamawy has won New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District race, becoming the first Muslim and Arab-American to represent the state in the US House of Representatives.
Hamawy, a Democrat, defeated Republican candidate Gregg Mele in the Tuesday, November 3, election. The Associated Press (AP) called the race in his favour, with the results showing him securing 74.1 per cent of the vote against Mele’s 23.9 per cent.
The 57-year-old gained national attention for his humanitarian work in Gaza, where he volunteered as a trauma surgeon during Israel’s war on the Palestinian territory. He travelled to the enclave in 2024 and 2025 on medical missions organised by the Palestinian American Medical Association in coordination with the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Born in Egypt, Hamawy moved to New Jersey with his family as an infant. He studied at Rutgers University and its medical school before earning an MBA from the institution. He later established a private plastic surgery practice in Princeton.
Before entering politics, Hamawy served eight years in the US Army as a surgeon, including a nine-month deployment to Baghdad during the Iraq War. He was credited with helping save the life of fellow soldier Tammy Duckworth, now a US senator, after her helicopter was shot down in 2004.
His humanitarian medical work extended beyond Gaza. According to his campaign website, he also volunteered in Syria, Lebanon, Sudan, Jordan, Turkey, Bosnia, Haiti, Belize and Colombia.
Dr. Adam Hamawy, a former US Army combat surgeon, has won New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, defeating Republican Gregg Mele, according to an Associated Press projection.
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) November 4, 2026
A plastic and reconstructive surgeon who volunteered in Gaza, Hamawy won the Democratic nomination in… pic.twitter.com/MZOsrO3nYJ
Hamawy has called for an end to US military aid to Israel and opposed arms supplies to countries accused of serious human rights violations. He also criticised the US-Israeli war with Iran, describing it as “illegal and immoral” in a May interview with the New Jersey Monitor.
On domestic issues, his campaign focused on expanding healthcare access, reducing living costs, increasing public school funding and investing in affordable housing. He also advocated immigration reforms, including creating a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
Hamawy will succeed Democrat Bonnie Watson Coleman, who has represented New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District since 2015. Coleman, the first Black woman elected to represent the state in Congress, announced in November 2025 that she would not seek re-election.
Hamawy’s victory marks a milestone for New Jersey’s Arab-American community, which numbers approximately 179,000, according to figures cited by the Arab American Institute. He will also become the second Egyptian-American to serve in Congress, following George Helmy, who was appointed to the US Senate in 2024 after Bob Menendez resigned.
Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib wins fifth term in US Congress
Meanwhile, Palestinian-American Democrat Rashida Tlaib won a fifth term in the US House of Representatives, defeating Republican James D. Hooper in Michigan’s 12th Congressional District.
The AP and NBC called the race with Tlaib receiving 83 per cent of the vote against Hooper’s 15 per cent, with an estimated 10 per cent of ballots counted at the time.
Tlaib, alongside Ilhan Omar, made history in 2018 as one of the first two Muslim women elected to Congress. She is known for her advocacy for Palestinian rights and criticism of Israel’s war on Gaza.
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This content is published by The Siasat Daily and has not been created or edited by Hello Headlines. View original
