The army doctor who came back from Gaza and is leading a New Jersey congressional race
Frontrunner Adam Hamawy has gone from political nobody to endorsements from Bernie Sanders, AOC and Ilhan Omar
TL;DR
- Adam Hamawy, an army trauma surgeon, is leading the race for New Jersey's 12th congressional district.
- Hamawy's decision to run was influenced by his experiences during a medical mission in Gaza in 2024, which he described as a US-funded genocide.
- He has gained significant support and endorsements from progressive politicians like Bernie Sanders, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Tammy Duckworth.
- Hamawy advocates for universal healthcare (Medicare for All), the abolition of ICE, and an arms embargo on Israel.
- His campaign has raised over $1 million, largely from small donors, and received a significant Super Pac pledge.
- Hamawy's background includes military service in Iraq and medical missions during the Bosnian War.
- He is potentially on track to become New Jersey's first Muslim lawmaker in Congress.
- Past criticisms of Hamawy include his testimony in the trial of Omar Abdel-Rahman in 1995 and volunteering with a charity later linked to al-Qaida, which he has dismissed as smears.
- Voter concerns in the district range from crime and taxes to foreign policy and the ongoing situation in Gaza.