In brief
Adam Hamawy, a former U.S. Army surgeon and volunteer in Gaza, became New Jersey’s first Muslim‑American congressman by winning his seat on February 6, 2024. His campaign, grounded in a mission to prioritize healthcare over military action, faced a wave of anti‑Muslim attacks but ultimately provided a notable example of Muslim representation. The election echoes broader civic debates about U.S. foreign aid, domestic healthcare financing, and institutional accountability.
On Tuesday night, February 6, 2024, Adam Hamawy was declared the winner of the election for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, making him the first Muslim‑American elected to the U.S. Congress from the state.
Hundred‑year‑old army surgeon and Gaza volunteer, Hamawy stood before supporters in Plainsboro, New Jersey, on the day of the result announcement, proclaiming that the smiles of Gaza victims had given him hope and the courage to fight for a more just future.
Hamawy’s platform promised a shift from “a system that funds genocide in Gaza while trapping us all in medical debt” to a redress of the United States’ healthcare system, a promise he carried from the front lines of the Iraq war to the medical missions he undertook in Gaza in 2024 and 2025.
He was not alone in winning; the night saw eight Muslim Americans secure election victories, with Democrats taking majority control of both chambers of Congress. His triumph came amid a wave of backlash and accusations of anti‑Muslim hate, the most serious of which included scrutiny over his past relationship with a sheikh later convicted of seditious conspiracy.
From Iraq to Gaza: A Path of Service
Hamawy was born in Egypt and his family moved to New Jersey when he was a baby. He pursued an undergraduate degree at Rutgers University before earning an M.D. from New Jersey Medical School. After eight years as a U.S. Army officer, where he deployed to Iraq as a combat surgeon, he rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
After the September 11 attacks, he served as a first‑responder. The following years saw him regularly travel to Gaza, attending medical missions in 2024 and 2025. “Seeing the devastation made it impossible for me to return to a normal life,” he said, a sentiment that alone set the tone for his decision to enter politics.
Healthcare, Not Bombs: The Campaign Core
In his campaign ad, Hamawy said, “I pledge to challenge a system that funds genocide in Gaza while trapping us all with medical debt.” He called for increased federal funds for American health insurance and an end to weapons sales that support Israeli military campaigns.
The campaign faced discipline from opponents, who characterized his critiques of U.S. policy as “anti‑Holocaust and anti‑Jewish.” He countered the attacks, saying, “I have never seen anti‑Muslim hate as open and as loud and as accepted as it is today.” He demanded that supporters confront the rhetoric by stating, “To the Muslim children who are told they don’t belong: you belong.”
Within a moment after his win, the American‑Arab Anti‑Discrimination Committee (ADC) issued a statement welcoming his victory and praising his principled stance. The ADC said it was a sign of progress for Muslim representation in the U.S. political arena.
Institutional Accountability and Legal Scrutiny
Hamawy’s background as a surgeon interfaced with federal institutions that provide military medical support, while his campaign raised questions about the ethics and accountability of campaign donors allied with foreign political actors. The investigation into his association with a now‑convicted conspirator highlighted the scrutiny politicians may face when their prior associations intersect with national security and legislative decision‑making.
With his election, the House of Representatives now houses a voice that can focus on the legal obligations of the US government to curb the funding of military operations abroad while redressing the domestic crisis of insurance deficits. The seat provides a platform to bring the domestic and foreign policy debates into a new cadence in the public arena.
The 12th District election, held amid national polling that leaned toward the Democratic Party, underscored how changes in public accountability may shape the future of U.S. political representation for minority groups. The elections were a moving point for discussions about the role of Congress as a regulator of foreign policy and a guardian of domestic health care.
In the weeks that followed, Hamawy called upon the president’s cabinet to reevaluate the Secretary of State’s ongoing policy toward Israel and emphasized the need to
