A crowded Democratic primary in New Jersey has produced a winner whose background and past associations are already drawing national attention. Dr. Adam Hisham Hamawy, a plastic surgeon, former Army combat medic, and progressive favorite, emerged victorious in a 12-candidate race to succeed retiring Rep. Bonnie Watson-Coleman in a safely Democratic congressional district.
Hamawy entered the contest as the perceived frontrunner and benefited from strong support from the party’s progressive wing. Endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and political commentator Hasan Piker helped elevate his profile, while outside groups aligned with pro-Palestinian causes invested resources into the race.
His victory, however, comes after months of scrutiny surrounding his past connections to figures and organizations linked to Islamic extremism.
Much of the attention has centered on Hamawy’s involvement as a defense witness during the 1996 terrorism trial of Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, the so-called “Blind Sheikh.” Abdel Rahman was convicted of seditious conspiracy and other charges related to terrorist plots, including his role in inspiring the 1993 World Trade Center bombing that killed six people and injured more than a thousand others. He was also widely regarded as an influential figure within the broader jihadist movement.
Hamawy has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and has never been accused of criminal conduct. His campaign has characterized criticism of his involvement in the case as unfair guilt-by-association attacks aimed at discrediting him decades later.
Interestingly, one of the people most familiar with the original case offered a nuanced assessment. Andrew McCarthy, the lead federal prosecutor who secured Abdel Rahman’s conviction, said Hamawy’s testimony ultimately proved more helpful to the government than to the defense.
“As was uniformly the case with witnesses presented in the extensive defense case, his testimony, once cross-examination was over, did more to bolster the prosecution’s proof of a jihadist terrorism conspiracy against the United States than to help the accused,” McCarthy said.
The controversy did not end there. Additional questions have been raised about Hamawy’s brief volunteer work in the 1990s with an organization later identified as having links to al Qaeda. Those reports have fueled criticism from some Democratic figures and political opponents, though no evidence has emerged suggesting Hamawy participated in any unlawful activity.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer, a fellow New Jersey Democrat, expressed concern about what he described as Hamawy’s past associations with individuals and groups connected to terrorism. Meanwhile, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, one of Hamawy’s primary opponents, went even further by labeling him a “radical extremist” during the campaign.
Despite those attacks, Hamawy maintained strong support among progressives and many Democratic voters in the district. His military service and medical career played a significant role in that appeal. Hamawy served as an Army combat medic and earned national recognition for his actions during the Iraq War.
Among his most notable supporters is Sen. Tammy Duckworth, who has publicly credited Hamawy with helping save her life after she was severely wounded during a 2004 deployment. Hamawy has likewise spoken about Duckworth’s assistance in helping secure his evacuation from Gaza during a humanitarian mission in 2024.
With the Democratic nomination now secured, Hamawy is heavily favored to win the general election in a district that has consistently supported Democrats and continues to trend blue. The race may be over, but the debate surrounding his past associations and political views is likely only beginning as he prepares for a national stage in Congress.
