U.S. House, New Jersey 12th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District?
Adam Hamawy has the strongest record in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District. Adam Hamawy scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Adam Hamawy's highest marks are communication. Andres Jinete (5 of 15 criteria), Winston Jordan (5 of 15 criteria) and Gregg Mele (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
Adam Hamawy
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
Green
Andres Jinete
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 63
- Performance
- NR
Independent
Winston Jordan
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 58
- Performance
- NR
Republican
Gregg Mele
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 6 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Adam Hamawy
- On the record2026-06-02
A pro-Palestinian super PAC, American Priorities, spent more than $1.5 million supporting him in the Democratic primary.
Source: CNN, June 3, 2026
- On the record2026-09-01
Took part in the first general election forum for the 12th District, hosted by the League of Women Voters at Princeton Windrows on Sept. 1, 2026, with all four candidates.
- On the record2024-05
Was among U.S. medical volunteers blocked from leaving Gaza in 2024 after the Rafah crossing closed, and later described his Gaza patients to members of Congress.
Sources: NBC News, May 14, 2024, NPR, June 26, 2024
- On the record1995
Testified as a defense witness at the 1995 trial of cleric Omar Abdel-Rahman, later convicted of seditious conspiracy; Hamawy was never charged and says he condemns the cleric's violence.
Sources: CNN, June 3, 2026, The Daily Princetonian, June 2026
- Credit2004
As an Army combat surgeon in Iraq, treated Tammy Duckworth after her helicopter was shot down; Duckworth says she owes him her life.
Sources: NBC News, May 14, 2024, CNN, June 3, 2026
Andres Jinete
- On the record2026-09-01
Took part in the first general election forum for the 12th District, hosted by the League of Women Voters at Princeton Windrows on Sept. 1, 2026, with all four candidates.
Winston Jordan
- On the record2026-09-01
Took part in the first general election forum for the 12th District, hosted by the League of Women Voters at Princeton Windrows on Sept. 1, 2026, with all four candidates.
Gregg Mele
- On the record2026-09-01
Took part in the first general election forum for the 12th District, hosted by the League of Women Voters at Princeton Windrows on Sept. 1, 2026, with all four candidates.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Adam Hamawy. Campaign reports and a 2026 House candidate financial disclosure (filed May 2, 2026) are on file. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074524, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00934588
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Adam Hamawy. No public record found.
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Adam Hamawy. Took part in the Sept. 1, 2026 League of Women Voters forum with all four general election candidates. No other debate or forum had been announced as of Sept. 2.
Andres Jinete. Took part in the Sept. 1, 2026 League of Women Voters forum with all four general election candidates. No other debate or forum had been announced as of Sept. 2.
Winston Jordan. Took part in the Sept. 1, 2026 League of Women Voters forum with all four general election candidates. No other debate or forum had been announced as of Sept. 2.
Gregg Mele. Took part in the Sept. 1, 2026 League of Women Voters forum with all four general election candidates. No other debate or forum had been announced as of Sept. 2.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Adam Hamawy. No public record found.
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Adam Hamawy. Served in the U.S. Army from 2003 to 2011, including as a combat surgeon in Iraq. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Adam Hamawy, CNN, June 3, 2026
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. Served in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1978. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Winston Jordan
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Adam Hamawy. Former Army combat trauma surgeon and plastic surgeon with a private practice in Princeton; has not held public office.
Sources: The Daily Princetonian, June 2026, CNN, June 3, 2026
Andres Jinete. Community organizer and tenant union member who worked at libraries in the district; has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andres Jinete
Winston Jordan. IT professional and author; Army service 1976 to 1978; has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Winston Jordan
Gregg Mele. Attorney and educator with law and graduate degrees; has not held public office.
Source: Ballotpedia, Gregg Mele
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Adam Hamawy. Publishes priorities on health care costs, public schools and affordability in general terms; supports Medicare for All.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, CNN, June 3, 2026
Andres Jinete. Lists priorities including national rent control in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Andres Jinete
Winston Jordan. Describes positions on tax brackets and economic rights in general terms.
Source: Ballotpedia, Winston Jordan
Gregg Mele. His Oct. 2026 Patch questionnaire gives specific plans within a House member's powers: a Route 1 infrastructure plan with deadlines and public progress reports, disclosure and cost rules for the South Brunswick data center, and Medicaid eligibility changes.
Sources: Patch, candidate profile, Oct. 9, 2026, Campaign site, home page
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Adam Hamawy. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, publishes campaign priorities, answered WHYY's voter guide and took part in a Sept. 2026 League of Women Voters forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Adam Hamawy, Campaign site, home page, WHYY voter guide, updated Sept. 24, 2026, The Daily Princetonian, Sept. 2, 2026
Andres Jinete. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, answered WHYY's voter guide and took part in a Sept. 2026 League of Women Voters forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Andres Jinete, WHYY voter guide, updated Sept. 24, 2026, The Daily Princetonian, Sept. 2, 2026
Winston Jordan. Completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025, answered WHYY's voter guide and took part in a Sept. 2026 League of Women Voters forum.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Winston Jordan, WHYY voter guide, updated Sept. 24, 2026, The Daily Princetonian, Sept. 2, 2026
Gregg Mele. Publishes plain-language priority pages, answered WHYY's voter guide by email and took part in a Sept. 2026 League of Women Voters forum. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Campaign site, home page, Ballotpedia, Gregg Mele, WHYY voter guide, updated Sept. 24, 2026, The Daily Princetonian, Sept. 2, 2026, Patch, candidate profile, Oct. 9, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Adam Hamawy. Lives in the Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, in the district, and grew up in Old Bridge. FEC by-state totals show about 49 percent of itemized individual contributions from New Jersey.
Sources: Wikipedia, Adam Hamawy, Wikipedia, New Jersey's 12th congressional district, Ballotpedia, Adam Hamawy, FEC contribution totals by state
Andres Jinete. Born and raised in Bound Brook, where he still lives, which is in the 12th District; his filed address is in Bound Brook. No itemized contributions on file.
Sources: WHYY voter guide, updated Sept. 24, 2026, New Jersey Division of Elections, official candidate list, Sept. 4, 2026, Wikipedia, New Jersey's 12th congressional district
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. Gives Clark as his town of residence in his Oct. 2026 Patch questionnaire; the Census Bureau places Clark in the 7th District. His Plainfield filed address is a campaign mailbox. House members need not live in their district. FEC: about 30 percent of a small itemized total from New Jersey.
Sources: Patch, candidate profile, Oct. 9, 2026, U.S. Census Bureau geocoder, Clark Township municipal building, Campaign site, contact, New Jersey Division of Elections, official candidate list, Sept. 4, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Adam Hamawy. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00934588
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search, committee C00796649
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Adam Hamawy. No public record found.
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Adam Hamawy. No public record found.
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Adam Hamawy. No public record found.
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Adam Hamawy. No public record found.
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Adam Hamawy. No public record found.
Andres Jinete. No public record found.
Winston Jordan. No public record found.
Gregg Mele. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026; scorecard updated October 10, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District?
Adam Hamawy has the strongest record in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District. Adam Hamawy scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Adam Hamawy's highest marks are communication. Andres Jinete (5 of 15 criteria), Winston Jordan (5 of 15 criteria) and Gregg Mele (6 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in New Jersey's 12th Congressional District in 2026?
Adam Hamawy (Democratic), Andres Jinete (Green), Winston Jordan (Independent), Gregg Mele (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Adam Hamawy a good candidate for Congress?
Adam Hamawy scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Andres Jinete a good candidate for Congress?
Andres Jinete has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Winston Jordan a good candidate for Congress?
Winston Jordan has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Gregg Mele a good candidate for Congress?
Gregg Mele has public evidence on 6 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every New Jersey race scored, and the New Jersey 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.