adminAdam Hamawy’s religion is Islam. The New Jersey surgeon and Army veteran, who won the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District in June 2026, has described himself as Muslim, and news outlets report that he would be the state’s first Muslim member of Congress if elected. Public reporting does not specify a denomination or detail his personal religious practice.
Early Life and Background
According to The New Arab, Hamawy’s parents emigrated from Egypt to the United States when he was a baby, and he grew up in the New Jersey district he now seeks to represent. He is a plastic surgeon and a former U.S. Army combat trauma surgeon who served in Iraq. He is credited with helping save the life of Sen. Tammy Duckworth in 2004, and in 2024 he volunteered to provide medical aid in Gaza, as the New Jersey Globe reports.
Adam Hamawy Religion: Faith and Public Statements
Hamawy has identified his Muslim faith in public comments. In a statement to JTA about antisemitism, he said: “As a Muslim, I understand what it feels like to face bigotry.”
His faith has drawn attention because of his place in New Jersey politics. The New Jersey Globe called his primary win a step toward making him “the first Muslim congressman in New Jersey history,” and the Jewish News Syndicate likewise reported he would be the first Muslim from New Jersey to serve in Congress. The general election was scheduled for November 3, 2026, and this article does not report its outcome.
Coverage has also examined his early-1990s contact with Omar Abdel-Rahman, a Muslim religious leader later convicted in connection with terror plots. JTA reports that Hamawy testified at Abdel-Rahman’s 1995 trial, which he has said was out of civic duty. His campaign said Abdel-Rahman was “one of very few religious figures in what was then a very small Muslim community in New Jersey.” Hamawy has called reports about the connection a smear, and he was never accused of wrongdoing.
Readers interested in how other politicians discuss faith can compare Haley Stevens’ religion and Vivek Ramaswamy’s religion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What religion is Adam Hamawy?
Adam Hamawy is Muslim. He described himself that way in a statement to JTA, saying “As a Muslim, I understand what it feels like to face bigotry.”
Would Adam Hamawy be the first Muslim in Congress from New Jersey?
Yes. The New Jersey Globe called his June 2026 primary win a step toward making him “the first Muslim congressman in New Jersey history,” and the Jewish News Syndicate said he would be New Jersey’s first Muslim to serve in Congress if elected.
Is Adam Hamawy’s religious denomination known?
No. The sources reviewed do not say which Muslim tradition he follows, so this article does not name one.
Where did Adam Hamawy grow up?
The New Arab reports that his parents emigrated from Egypt to the United States when he was a baby and that he grew up in the New Jersey district he is now running to represent.
