Indian-American politician and physician Amish Shah has secured the Democratic nomination for Arizona’s First Congressional District after defeating an establishment-backed rival in a closely watched primary election. His victory sets up a high-profile contest against Republican candidate and former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who has received the endorsement of US President Donald Trump, in the November congressional election.
A practicing emergency medicine physician and a moderate Democrat, Shah built his campaign around direct voter engagement. His team reported that he personally visited nearly 28,000 homes, emphasizing face-to-face conversations with residents throughout the district. The grassroots strategy helped him overcome former television journalist Marlene Galan-Woods, who had the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC).
Shah’s victory marks another setback for the DCCC, as Galan-Woods became the third committee-supported candidate to lose a contested House primary this year. The result reflects the growing influence of locally driven campaigns over traditional party-backed efforts in several congressional races.
The Democratic nominee and his Republican opponent share an unusual connection dating back to their professional careers. Before entering politics, Shah served as an emergency physician for the New York Jets, where Jay Feely played as the team’s kicker. Their paths now cross again as rivals competing for a seat in the US House of Representatives.
Born in Chicago to Gujarati immigrant parents who arrived in the United States during the 1960s, Shah has built a distinguished career in both medicine and public service. He completed his undergraduate studies and medical degree at Northwestern University before earning a Master of Public Health through a merit scholarship at the University of California, Berkeley. He later completed emergency medicine residency training at one of New York City’s busiest Level 1 trauma centers.
Following his primary win, Shah described the outcome as a victory for grassroots politics and pledged to reach voters across the political spectrum. He said his campaign would work to earn the trust of Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike ahead of the general election.
This is the second consecutive election cycle in which Shah has captured the Democratic nomination for the district. In 2024, he advanced to the general election but narrowly lost to Republican David Schweikert.
Outside politics, Shah has promoted healthy living by founding Arizona’s first Vegetarian Food Festival and supports charitable organizations focused on animal welfare, arts education, and community development. Fluent in Gujarati and conversational in Spanish, Shah is also known for his interests in basketball, aviation, and travel.
