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Tina Shah loses to Rebecca Bennett in New Jersey Democratic primary
Shah lost the opportunity to potentially become the first Indian American to represent New Jersey in Congress in this election.
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Jeffin T. Kaleekal - Tue, 02, Jun 2026
- 23:59 EDT
- 30
Indian American practicing physician and Democratic candidate for Congress Dr. Tina Shah. / drtinashahforcongress.com/
Indian American congressional hopeful Tina Shah has lost the Democratic primary to rival Rebecca Bennett in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District.
Bennett, who is a former Navy helicopter pilot and health care executive, defeated physician Tina Shah, former Small Business Administration official Michael Roth, and business owner Brian Varela for the Democratic nomination.
Bennett emerged as the winner from a crowded field, leading her nearest challenger, Tina Shah, by 28 percentage points with 48% of the vote counted, according to The Associated Press.
Shah, a triple board-certified physician, has served in both the public and private sectors and worked under three presidential administrations. She was a former adviser under the Barack Obama and Biden administrations.
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Her campaign centered on her professional experience and on lowering health care costs. During her government service, she helped expand health care access for veterans and led initiatives to address physician and nurse burnout.
Her campaign received endorsements from the Indian American Impact Fund, which noted she could become the first South Asian elected to Congress from New Jersey, as well as Democratic Reps. Ami Bera and Dave Min of California.
Federal campaign finance filings show Shah had raised nearly $2 million by March 31, making her one of the leading fundraisers in the Democratic primary race.
With this defeat, Shah lost the opportunity to potentially become the first Indian American to represent New Jersey in Congress in this election.
New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, which includes several suburban communities with a significant Indian American presence, is expected to have national implications for control of Congress, owing to its status as a swing district.
After besting Shah and other Democratic rivals, Bennett is now up for a close battle against Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. The battle is expected to be tightly fought considering past voting patterns, including President Donald Trump's meager 1 percentage point lead in the district in 2024.
The general election will be held on Nov. 3.
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