Shah’s victory in the primary sets the stage for a pivotal race against Schweikert, whose political career faces challenges due to recent controversies
Indian-American physician and former Arizona state representative, Amish Shah, has clinched the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. At 47, Shah has served five years in the Arizona State House and is set to challenge seven-term Republican incumbent David Schweikert in the upcoming November election.
Shah, whose parents emigrated from India in the 1960s, led the primary by 1,629 votes, securing a 23.9% to 21.4% margin over his main opponent, Andrei Cherny. In a statement conceding the race, Cherny emphasized the importance of democracy, freedom, and America’s future.
The 1st Congressional District, which includes parts of northeastern Phoenix, is known for its competitive elections, highlighted by Schweikert’s narrow win over Democrat Jevin Hodge in 2022.
The Democratic primary was highly competitive, with Shah emerging from a field that included former local news anchor Marlene Galan-Woods, orthodontist Andrew Horne, former regional American Red Cross CEO Kurt Kroemer, and investment banker Conor O’Callaghan.
Born and raised in Chicago, Shah has dedicated 20 years to saving lives as an emergency department physician. Beyond his medical career, he founded the Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival, advocating for healthy eating and disease prevention. Since 2019, Shah has represented Central Phoenix, Sunnyslope, and South Scottsdale in the Arizona House of Representatives.
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