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Amish Shah enters 2026 Congressional race in Arizona
He is seeking election in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, aiming for a rematch with Republican incumbent Rep. David Schweikert in 2026.
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Malvika Choudhary - Wed, 14, May 2025
- 11:23 EDT
- 98
Amish Shah / X
Former Arizona state representative Amish Shah announced his candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona on May 13.
The Indian American emergency room physician is seeking election in Arizona's 1st Congressional District, aiming for a rematch with Republican incumbent Rep. David Schweikert in 2026. Shah lost to Schweikert in the 2024 general election by a margin of approximately four percentage points after emerging from a six-way Democratic primary.
Also Read: Rep. Krishnamoorthi announces U.S. senate bid
In a video statement on X, Shah said his decision to run again is driven by concerns over economic instability and healthcare access. He criticized Republican-backed fiscal policies, including proposed cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, and said Arizona voters deserve leadership that is responsive and informed.
I’m running for Congress because Arizona deserves leadership that listens, shows up, and gets things done.
— Amish Shah, MD (@DrAmishShah) May 13, 2025
Let’s bring integrity and real results back to Washington.
Sign the petition to get me on the ballot → https://t.co/GV4iPvKauk pic.twitter.com/ewRJ76q04y
“There is a feeling of unease across Arizona and America,” Shah said in his announcement. He attributed rising prices and declining retirement savings to what he called a “reckless tariff policy,” and pointed to Republican support for a federal budget framework that Democrats argue would reduce access to essential social services.
Arizona’s 1st Congressional District includes parts of north Phoenix, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley. The Cook Political Report currently rates the district as a “Toss-up” for the 2026 cycle.
Shah previously served in the Arizona Legislature, where he says he worked across the aisle to pass more legislation than any other Democrat in the past decade. He has cited bipartisan support, including endorsements from former Republican House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Democrat Andrei Cherny, a 2024 primary rival.
He also referenced his grassroots approach, stating that he has knocked on over 23,000 doors as part of his voter outreach efforts. Shah is positioning himself as an alternative to what he describes as “chaos and cruelty” in Washington and said the outcome of this race could help determine which party controls the House of Representatives.
He is among six Democrats who have filed statements of interest for the 2026 race. Another contender is Marlene Galán-Woods, who also ran in the 2024 primary.
Rep. Schweikert, who has held the seat since 2011, is seeking a ninth term. In the last election, he secured 51.9 percent of the vote to Shah’s 48.1 percent.
“This seat could decide who controls the U.S. House,” he said, framing the race as one with broader national implications.
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