American physician Adam Hamoui, who volunteered in Gaza, achieved a major political milestone by winning the Democratic primary in New Jersey, despite a media campaign targeting his reputation in recent weeks.

Hamoui, a former field surgeon who served in the U.S. Army, secured victory in the 12th congressional district, surpassing a crowded list of Democratic candidates. This positions him, according to estimates, for success in the November general election against Republican candidate Greg Mele.

His victory came despite right-wing media reports portraying him as an extremist, citing testimony he gave in 1995 during a trial of a man later convicted of planning terrorist attacks. Hamoui responded that these accusations reflect outdated stereotypes targeting Muslims in public life.
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He received support from prominent figures including Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Senator Bernie Sanders, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, the Sunrise Movement, and content creator Hasan Piker. His campaign also gained momentum from the independent PAC “PalPAC,” which opposes AIPAC’s influence, investing heavily in advertising to boost his visibility and polling numbers.

Career Highlights  
Hamoui stood out among 13 candidates vying to succeed retiring Democratic Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman, benefiting from his professional and humanitarian record, as well as financial and organizational backing from pro-Palestinian groups within the Democratic Party.

His career includes serving as a field surgeon in Iraq in 2004, where he saved Senator Tammy Duckworth’s life after her helicopter was hit. In 2024, he traveled to Gaza to provide medical aid to injured Palestinians, remaining there after Rafah crossing closure and refusing to leave when it reopened, insisting on bringing in more medical teams.

His medical and humanitarian experience shaped his political positions: he supports Medicare for All, calls for abolishing ICE, and opposes U.S. military aid to Israel—stances that strengthened his popularity among progressives.

In a joint statement, the Middle East Understanding Policy Project and Democrats for Justice praised his victory, noting voters were drawn to his direct narrative about the genocide in Gaza, especially his experience treating the wounded under bombardment.

Brad Cohen, mayor of East Brunswick and a centrist pro-Israel candidate backed by local leaders, came second, while activist Sue Altman placed third despite party support and wide networks.

Hamoui’s win represents a significant boost for PalPAC, recently founded to counter AIPAC’s influence in the Democratic Party. His campaign rose from modest support of 5% in March to 19% in May, placing him at the top of the race.