Indian-origin doctor Amish Shah wins Democratic congressional primary in Arizona: Who is he?

Published 23 July 2026 · politics

Moderate Amish Shah on Wednesday won the Democratic primary in Arizona's hotly-contested US House of Representatives first congressional district, defeating the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which backed a rival, as more voters reject the preferences of party leaders in Washington. Democrats' drive to win majority control of the House depends in part on their ability to win this general election race on November 3. Also Read | House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for Iran war Shah, an emergency physician, will face Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker who was endorsed by President Donald Trump in his primary, in the fall. Before becoming political opponents, Feely and Shah were part of the same team — the New York Jets. Shah was a doctor on the sidelines, while Feely was the kicker. The DCCC backed Marlene Galán-Woods, a former Republican who switched parties at the beginning of Trump’s first term. Who is Amish Shah? Dr Amish Shah is an emergency medicine doctor and a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives. He won three straight elections for the Arizona State House of Representatives in 2018, 2020, and 2022. In his five years at the State Legislature, Dr. Shah focused on increasing teacher pay, supporting small businesses, and improving public health and safety.

He believes that politicians should stay out of personal medical decisions, and he will work tirelessly to ensure that women have the freedom to make choices about their own bodies, according to the profile on his website. Amish enjoys playing basketball, flying small airplanes, and embarking on adventurous travel. He speaks conversational Spanish and is fluent in Gujarati. He has three adopted cats named Hillary, Miss Meowerson, and Cousin Oliver. All about the election The competition for the 1st Congressional District, an affluent area that includes northeast Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley, is expected to help determine control of the US House. Although Republicans hold a voter registration advantage, the district has shifted toward the centre over the last decade. The seat is open because Republican Rep. David Schweikert ran for governor, losing to Rep. Andy Biggs in the GOP primary on Tuesday. The DCCC's decision to endorse Galán-Woods, a former television journalist in Phoenix, puzzled local Democrats because there was little ideological difference between her and Shah. Both are moderates, and the race was not a proxy fight in the party's deepening feud between progressives and centrists. Also Read | FIFA WC 2026: Fans criticize Trump for staying on stage after presenting trophy “Our victory in this primary was a grassroots victory where Arizona voters made their voices heard,” Shah said Wednesday night in a statement that did not address the DCCC snub.