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
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