Bernie Sanders Endorses Dr. Adam Hamawy for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District

Senator Bernie Sanders announced his endorsement of Dr. Adam Hamawy, a surgeon and Army veteran, in the race to succeed retiring Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. Sanders highlighted Hamawy’s humanitarian medical work, his support for Medicare for All, campaign-finance reform, and opposition to “endless and illegal wars.” Hamawy, a 46-year-old son of Egyptian immigrants raised in Old Bridge Township, is running on a platform that includes universal health care, abolition of ICE, and economic reforms to curb billionaire influence.

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Hamawy’s career spans emergency response to the September 11 attacks, combat trauma surgery during the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and volunteer medical missions after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, during the Syrian civil war, and in Gaza. While in Gaza he performed roughly 120 surgeries—many on children injured by Israeli attacks—and was among three U.S. doctors who refused evacuation until non-American team members could also leave. After returning to the United States, he testified about severe shortages of medicine and high civilian mortality in Gaza. His military service culminated at the rank of lieutenant colonel, and he is credited with saving the life of then-Army helicopter pilot Tammy Duckworth after her aircraft was shot down in 2004.

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Hamawy’s campaign is anchored in progressive priorities: Medicare for All, a pledge to “fund health-care, not bombs,” abolition of ICE, and campaign-finance reform to limit billionaire influence. He has secured endorsements from a slate of progressive officials and groups, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Ro Khanna, Justice Democrats, Our Revolution, Veterans for Responsible Leadership, CAIR Action, and Track AIPAC. The campaign reported the largest fundraising totals of any candidate in the race and submitted 50 % more petitions to qualify for the ballot than its nearest opponent.

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• Humanitarian missions: 120 surgeries in Gaza; volunteer work in Haiti, Syria, and post-9/11 response.

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• Fundraising: Highest total among all CD-12 candidates.

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• Ballot petitions: 50 % more than the next-closest contender.

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• Military rank: Lieutenant colonel, U.S. Army Medical Corps.

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Senator Sanders emphasized that Hamawy’s frontline medical experience gives him “first-hand” insight into a broken health-care system and the need for Medicare for All. Hamawy responded that he will “fight right alongside Bernie to defeat fascism and deliver for working people,” and reiterated his commitment to “fund health-care, not bombs.” Additional endorsements from Duckworth and Omar framed Hamawy’s candidacy as a continuation of progressive advocacy on health, veterans’ issues, and foreign-policy restraint.

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The broader political environment shows that some pro-Palestine incumbents and challengers have lost recent elections amid substantial funding from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). While Hamawy’s humanitarian work in Gaza has drawn praise, the same funding dynamics suggest potential opposition from pro-Israel interest groups and candidates aligned with them.

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• “Dr. Adam Hamawy has saved lives with great courage and honor—he did it as a 9/11 first responder, as a combat trauma surgeon in Iraq, as a volunteer in hospitals under bombardment in Gaza, and in emergency rooms in New Jersey,” — Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator (I-VT)

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• “I am running to fund healthcare, not bombs, to abolish ICE, and to unrig our economy,” — Dr. Adam Hamawy, Congressional candidate

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• “Bernie Sanders is the moral leader of the progressive movement. He has consistently stood up for working people and has taken on the billionaires and corrupt interests rigging our economy,” — Dr. Adam Hamawy

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• “I am deeply honored to have earned his support.” — Dr. Adam Hamawy

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• “As a doctor, I am proud to fight alongside him for Medicare for All.” — Dr. Adam Hamawy

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The primary election is scheduled for June 4, 2024. Hamawy will continue to campaign on health-care reform and campaign-finance legislation while facing scrutiny from opponents linked to pro-Israel lobbying groups.

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