Biography

Adam Hishan Hamawy was born in Egypt around 1969–1970 and immigrated to the United States as a baby, growing up in Old Bridge, New Jersey. He earned his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and an MBA from Rutgers Camden. He went on to serve eight years as an officer in the U.S. Army and New Jersey National Guard, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

As a combat surgeon deployed to Baghdad during the height of the Iraq War from 2004 to 2005, Hamawy operated on hundreds of service members, civilians, contractors, and journalists. Among those he treated was then-Major Tammy Duckworth, whose helicopter was shot down by Iraqi insurgents. Duckworth credits Hamawy with saving her life. 'It is because of his sacrifice that I'm not only alive — but I've been able to go on to serve my country and the people of Illinois in the United States Senate,' she said. Hamawy received the Meritorious Service Medal and three Army Commendation Medals for his service.

After leaving the Army, Hamawy built a career as a reconstructive plastic surgeon in the Princeton, New Jersey area. In May 2024, he joined a team of 19 doctors organized by the Palestinian American Medical Association and the World Health Organization to provide emergency medical care in Gaza. The team was briefly trapped when Israel launched a military operation in Rafah and closed the crossing, an ordeal that drew national attention. Sen. Duckworth personally intervened to help secure their evacuation. Hamawy was one of three doctors who chose to stay behind until the non-American members of the team could also depart.

Now 56, Hamawy is a father of four and lives in South Brunswick. He has never previously sought elected office. If elected in November, he will be the first Muslim member of Congress in New Jersey history.

2026 House Campaign

Hamawy announced his campaign in early 2026 to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey's heavily Democratic 12th Congressional District, which stretches from Trenton to Plainfield. He entered a crowded 12-candidate Democratic primary as a virtual unknown, but quickly consolidated progressive support with endorsements from Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Sen. Tammy Duckworth.

He won the June 2, 2026 primary convincingly, becoming the Democratic nominee in a district so safely blue that his general election opponent, Republican Gregg Mele, is considered a heavy underdog. Hamawy is now all but assured of becoming New Jersey's next congressman from the 12th District.

Hamawy's campaign is built on a straightforward message: the United States spends too much on wars and bombs abroad, and not enough on healthcare, education, and housing at home. 'I was running on something very simple: that we should be spending on healthcare, not bombs,' he told Democracy Now! He supports Medicare for All, free public college, abolishing ICE, and ending U.S. military aid to Israel. Watson Coleman, the retiring incumbent, congratulated Hamawy and told him he 'can count on me' going forward.

Medicare for All
Free public college
End foreign wars
Affordable housing
Veterans' care
Abolish ICE

In the press