New Jersey Democrats have picked Adam Hamawy as their nominee for the 12th Congressional District, setting up a general election race in one of the state’s most closely watched seats. The win has already drawn sharp attention because of reporting about Hamawy’s past and the history of the district he wants to represent.
That district includes Cranbury, where Todd Beamer is buried. Beamer was one of the passengers on United Flight 93 and became a national symbol of courage after his final words, “Let’s roll,” before passengers tried to fight back against the hijackers on 9/11. For many voters, that connection makes the race especially sensitive.
Hamawy has been described in reporting as an Egypt-born former combat surgeon and Iraq War veteran. He has also received backing from a group of high-profile left-wing names, including “Squad” members Ro Khanna, Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Rashida Tlaib, along with socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders. Supporters have pointed to his military service and his work in difficult war-zone settings as proof of his credentials.
But the controversy has focused on older reporting about his associations. Sources cited in the race say Hamawy once volunteered with a group in Bosnia later identified as an Al Qaeda front. Reports also say he had a long relationship with Sheikh Omar Abdel-Rahman, the militant known as the “Blind Sheikh,” who was convicted in connection with plots against New York targets after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing.
Hamawy also testified as a defense witness at Abdel-Rahman’s trial, according to the reporting cited in the coverage. That has made him an easy target for critics who say voters should be asking harder questions before handing him a seat in Congress.
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The race is not happening in a vacuum. New Jersey’s 12th District is heavily Democratic, which makes Hamawy the favorite heading into November. Still, the backlash shows how quickly old ties and past alliances can become a major issue when a candidate steps onto a bigger stage.
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For a district tied to the memory of 9/11, the optics are ugly. Todd Beamer’s resting place sits in the same district where Hamawy is now the nominee. That contrast is what has made this race so explosive, and why the reaction has been so intense since the primary result came in.