Surgeon Who Saved Duckworth in Iraq, Then Served in Gaza, Wins New Jersey Democratic Primary

Adam Hamawy, a 56-year-old retired Army combat surgeon, defeated 12 candidates in New Jersey's 12th District Democratic primary on June 4, 2026. He performed life-saving surgery on then-Major Tammy Duckworth after her helicopter was shot down in Iraq in 2004. Last year, while volunteering as a surgeon in Gaza during Israel's military operations, Israeli forces trapped him at the border. Duckworth helped secure his evacuation. He now faces Republican Greg Mele in November and is positioned to become New Jersey's first Muslim member of Congress.