04.11.2026 06:21
In the US midterm elections, Democratic candidate Adam Hamawy defeated his Republican opponent in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, becoming the first Muslim elected to Congress from the state. Hamawy, a former military doctor and surgeon, saved the life of Senator Tammy Duckworth, whose helicopter was shot down in Iraq in 2004, and in 2024 was stranded in Gaza because Israel closed the Rafah border crossing. Years later, Duckworth intervened to help get the doctor who saved her out of Gaza.
The victory of Democratic candidate Adam Hamawy in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District stood out in the U.S. midterm elections. According to Decision Desk HQ's election projection, surgeon and former military doctor Hamawy defeated Republican Party attorney candidate Gregg Mele.
Hamawy will take over the seat of retiring Democratic House member Bonnie Watson Coleman. Thus, the district, where Democrats are strong, will remain under the party's control.
Watson Coleman had defeated her Republican opponent by 25 points in the 2024 elections. Hamawy, meanwhile, had been nominated for Congress by winning this year's Democratic Party primary, in which many candidates competed.
WAS STRANDED IN GAZA
Hamawy had also drawn attention with an incident he experienced in the Gaza Strip in 2024. After Israel closed the Rafah border crossing, Hamawy, who was among the doctors stranded in the area, was unable to leave Gaza for some time.
Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth also got involved in efforts to get the doctors out of the area. Duckworth made efforts so that Hamawy and the accompanying healthcare workers could leave Gaza.
SAVED THE SENATOR'S LIFE IN IRAQ
Another noteworthy incident in Hamawy's past occurred in Iraq in 2004. While serving as a doctor in the U.S. military, Hamawy was part of the medical team that saved the life of Tammy Duckworth, whose helicopter was shot down.
Duckworth, later elected to the U.S. Senate, stated that she owed her survival to Hamawy's intervention.
In 2024, after learning that Hamawy was stranded in Gaza, Duckworth made efforts to get the doctor and other healthcare workers out of the area.
BECAME NEW JERSEY'S FIRST MUSLIM MEMBER OF CONGRESS
With his election victory, Adam Hamawy became the first Muslim politician elected to the U.S. Congress from New Jersey.
Hamawy, known for his background as a surgeon and military doctor, will thus represent the state's 12th Congressional District in the House of Representatives after Bonnie Watson Coleman.