Amish Shah won the crowded Democratic primary in Congressional District 1, and will go up against Republican incumbent Congressman David Schweikert.
According to an Associated Press race call on Thursday, Shah won with just 24 percent of the vote against five other Democrats. The district is majority-Republican, but still considered somewhat competitive.
Shah says all of his primary competitors have reached out to congratulate him, and he’s grateful to his supporters.
"It’s just a real outpouring, and it’s overwhelming, I’m just honored that they put their trust in me, and I’m just hoping I can make them all proud," he said.
Shah, a medical doctor who previously served in the Arizona Legislature, won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, which includes parts of north Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley.
In November, Shah will face incumbent Republican Rep. David Schweikert, who has served seven terms and breezed through the GOP primary. Biden won the district in 2020.
Schweikert’s reputation has been tarnished in recent years by ethics scandals. In 2022, Schweikert received a $125,000 fine by the Federal Elections Commission for misappropriating campaign funds. Two years prior, he agreed to pay a $50,000 fine and accept 11 campaign finance violations after an investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee.
The other candidates who ran in the Democratic primary were Andrei Cherny, a former state party chair; ex-news anchor Marlene Galán-Wood; orthodontist Andrew Horne; former regional American Red Cross CEO Kurt Kroemer; and investment banker Conor O’Callaghan.
Schweikert defeated businessman Robert Backie and ex-FBI agent and corporate investor Kim George.
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Find everything you need to know about elections in Arizona and Maricopa County from KJZZ's politics team. -
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