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Arizona primary fight erupts over Amish Shah's LGBTQ+ bill
Equality Arizona, which helped draft the 2022 legislation, said the advertisement misrepresents the bill.
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Pranavi Sharma - Thu, 16, Jul 2026
- 02:26 EDT
- 29
Amish Shah / File photo
Former Arizona state Rep. Amish Shah, an Indian American emergency room physician running for Congress, is facing attacks over his record on LGBTQ+ legislation as Arizona's Democratic primary for the state's 1st Congressional District enters its final stretch ahead of the July 21 election.
Shah, who announced his congressional campaign on May 13, is seeking the Democratic nomination for a rematch against Republican Rep. David Schweikert in Arizona's 1st Congressional District in 2026. Shah lost to Schweikert in the 2024 general election after winning a six-candidate Democratic primary.
The dispute centers on a political advertisement funded by super PAC Pro-Choice Majority Action. The ad claims Shah supported legislation "allowing forced conversion therapy on Arizona youth" while promoting his primary opponent, 'Marlene Galán-Woods'.
Equality Arizona, which helped draft the 2022 legislation, said the advertisement misrepresents the bill.
In an interview with The Advocate this week, Equality Arizona President Michael Soto called the ad "deliberate disinformation."
According to Soto, the legislation would have expanded Arizona's existing nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people while also banning licensed medical professionals from practicing conversion therapy.
The legislation drew criticism from some LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, including the ACLU of Arizona, because it included religious exemptions. Equality Arizona, however, said those exemptions anticipated legal challenges involving conversion therapy restrictions.
"But it was a clear ban," Soto said. "It didn't in any way support conversion therapy or allow it, and in fact, it was kind of forward-thinking because we kind of saw the writing on the wall."
Equality Arizona also disputed the claims made in the advertisement.
"They're not only lying about Amish's record but also lying about our record," Soto said.
Galán-Woods said in a statement that, if elected, she would be "an unyielding ally for the LGBTQ community, not just in words, but in action."
She added that she would "fight every day to pass the Equality Act and write comprehensive federal protections into law, so our schools, workplaces, housing, and public spaces are safe and welcoming for everyone."
Shah's campaign also rejected the allegations. Campaign spokesperson Colin Lauderdale criticized Galán-Woods, describing her as a "lifelong Republican" and accusing her of supporting anti-LGBTQ+ politicians before changing parties.
"That she has directed her dark money backers to tell a direct lie about Dr. Shah's work to protect Arizona's LGBTQ+ kids is gross, cynical and desperate, and it shows that she and her cronies will do and say anything to try to win," Lauderdale said.
The Democratic primary has become one of the state's closely watched congressional contests. Shah defeated Galán-Woods for the party's nomination in 2024 before losing to Schweikert in the general election. With Schweikert now running for Arizona governor, Shah and Galán-Woods are again competing for the Democratic nomination in the open congressional race.
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