Amish Shah wins Arizona Democratic primary for swing House seat

Jul 23, 2026

Amish Shah, an emergency room physician, won the Democratic primary for Arizona's competitive 1st congressional district, defeating DCCC-backed rival Marlene Galán-Woods. The loss marks the third primary defeat for a candidate endorsed by the House Democrats' campaign arm this year. Shah now faces Trump-backed Republican Jay Feely in a November race rated as a "Toss-up" that could help decide control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Democratic primary results

▪Amish Shah supports universal health care but not "Medicare for All."
▪Entrepreneur Jonathan Treble and businessman Rick McCartney trailed in the primary with 18% and 8.5% of the vote, respectively.
▪With an estimated 95% of the vote counted, Amish Shah had around 39% to Marlene Galán-Woods' 34%.
▪Amish Shah, an emergency room physician, won the Democratic primary for Arizona's 1st congressional district on July 22, 2026.

DCCC endorsement controversy

▪The DCCC spent $200,000 on advertising to support Marlene Galán-Woods, a decision that drew criticism from some Arizona Democrats.
▪This was the third primary defeat in 2026 for a candidate endorsed by the DCCC, following losses in California and Maine.
▪Marlene Galán-Woods, a former Republican, also had endorsements from Sen. Mark Kelly, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus's campaign arm, and EMILY’s List.
▪Amish Shah's primary victory was a defeat for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), which had endorsed his opponent, Marlene Galán-Woods.

November general election matchup

▪Jay Feely has the backing of President Donald Trump and described himself as a "political outsider."
▪The race for Arizona's 1st District is considered a "Toss-up" and could help determine which party controls the U.S. House of Representatives.
▪In the November 3, 2026, general election, Amish Shah will face Republican nominee Jay Feely, a retired NFL kicker and sports commentator.
▪The incumbent, Republican Rep. David Schweikert, did not seek reelection for the House seat, instead running for governor.

Arizona competitive House races

▪The 1st District race is one of three House contests in Arizona seen as competitive in the fall of 2026.
▪In Arizona's 6th District, Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani faces Democrat JoAnna Mendoza in a race also rated a Toss-up.
▪Arizona's 1st District is a swing district that former President Joe Biden won in 2020 and President Donald Trump won in the last presidential election.
▪In Arizona's 2nd District, Republican Rep. Eli Crane faces a rematch with Democrat Jonathan Nez in a race rated Likely Republican.