Dr. Adam Hamawy, a Princeton-based plastic surgeon, and Army veteran, won the Democratic primary for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District on June 2, emerging from a crowded field of candidates seeking to succeed longtime U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, who is retiring at the end of her term.
With 93% of votes counted, the Associated Press called the race for Hamawy at 9:36 p.m. Tuesday. Hamawy received 20,437 votes, or 28.1%, nearly doubling the total of second-place finisher Brad Cohen, the mayor of East Brunswick, who received 10,833 votes, or 14.9%.
The race drew 12 active Democratic candidates and was one of the most closely watched congressional primaries in New Jersey. Candidates included elected officials from across the district, including Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson of Trenton, Somerset County Commissioner Shanel Robinson, Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp and Cohen, each of whom entered the race with support from political leaders in their home counties.
Despite those regional bases of support, Hamawy built a coalition across the district’s four counties and secured a decisive victory.
“I think this is what people are looking for: someone who unabashedly stands up for human rights, someone who doesn’t waver on their stances,” Hamawy said in an election-night interview. “People are looking for outsiders. They’re tired of the same establishment.”
Hamawy, a political newcomer making his first run for public office, will face Republican Gregg Mele, a frequent Republican candidate who has previously sought statewide election and the 6th congressional district. The 12th district has historically favored Democratic candidates. Watson Coleman won reelection in 2024 with approximately 61% of the vote.
Mercer County Results Show Competitive Race
Unofficial Mercer County results mirrored the districtwide contest but were considerably tighter.
Hamawy led Mercer County Democrats with 5,248 votes, or 25.24%, followed closely by Reynolds-Jackson with 4,683 votes, or 22.52%. Sam Wang finished third in Mercer County with 3,595 votes, or 17.29%.
The county results were notable because many of Mercer County’s highest-profile Democratic elected officials had endorsed Reynolds-Jackson. Her supporters included the entire Hopewell Township Committee at the time endorsements were announced, Hopewell Borough Mayor Ryan Kennedy and several council members, Pennington Mayor James Davy, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, Mercer County commissioners and other Democratic leaders across the county.
Elsewhere in the district, county organizations largely rallied around hometown candidates. Somerset Democrats endorsed Robinson, Middlesex Democrats backed Cohen and Union Democrats supported Mapp.
Hamawy, meanwhile, entered the race without holding elected office and relied instead on a campaign centered on his military service, medical career and progressive policy platform.
Physician, Veteran and Political Newcomer
Hamawy grew up in New Jersey, attended Rutgers University and Rutgers Medical School, and served as an Army trauma surgeon, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel.
He has often cited his military service in Iraq, his work treating victims and first responders following the Sept. 11 attacks, and recent medical missions in Gaza as defining experiences that motivated his candidacy.
In an interview conducted shortly before the election, Hamawy said his campaign was rooted in concerns about healthcare costs and federal spending priorities.
“As a physician, I’ve seen the problems they’re having with health care, their access to getting good insurance, being able to afford it,” he said. “I feel that we should be spending our money on healthcare and not bombs.”
His campaign platform called for Medicare for All, tuition-free public college, campaign finance reform, expanded labor protections and significant reductions in military spending.
Hamawy also received endorsements from several nationally known progressive figures, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal, U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna and U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost.
Duckworth’s endorsement carried particular significance. Hamawy treated the future senator after her helicopter was shot down during the Iraq War in 2004, an experience both have spoken about publicly.
Republicans Nominate Mele
On the Republican side, Gregg Mele secured his party’s nomination and will advance to the general election.
A longtime New Jersey resident, attorney, businessman and educator, Mele has previously sought several statewide and federal offices. According to campaign finance records, he ran for governor in 2021 and has also appeared as a candidate in recent congressional and U.S. Senate races, including campaigns in the 6th Congressional District and the 2024 U.S. Senate primary.
His campaign has focused on fiscal responsibility, reducing federal spending, supporting law enforcement and first responders, and securing additional federal resources for New Jersey.
Mele was the only Republican candidate seeking the 12th District nomination and received 1,965 votes in Mercer County’s Republican primary.
Other Primary Results
In the U.S. Senate race, incumbent Democratic Sen. Cory Booker ran unopposed for renomination.
Republican voters selected Justin Murphy as their nominee for U.S. Senate, defeating Richard Tabor, Alex Zdan and Robert Lebovics in a four-way primary.
Read more coverage from MercerMe about the local primary results here.
Final election results remain unofficial pending certification by county election officials.
