Former Arizona lawmaker Amish Shah will once again challenge Republican Congressman David Schweikert.
Shah is a Phoenix Democrat and an emergency room doctor. He won the 2024 Democratic primary in Congressional District 1, emerging from a field of five candidates but lost to Schweikert in the general election by about 4 points.
This time, Shah is campaigning on a promise to stand up to President Donald Trump and stabilize the economy.
“Our country has been thrown into chaos by policies from an unchecked President and a Congress that refuses to do its job to rein him in. I know that people are justifiably worried about the economy, their retirement, Social Security and Medicaid. I am running for Congress to stand up for Arizona and to be an independent voice who is accountable to the people I serve,” Shah said in a statement.
Shah accused Schweikert of failing to lead by not pushing back against the Trump administration — including Schweikert’s vote to proceed with the framework of a federal budget that Democrats say will require cuts to Medicaid to meet GOP spending reduction goals.
CD 1 leans slightly Republican and encompasses part of north Phoenix, Scottsdale and Paradise Valley.
Shah touts his bipartisan record in the Legislature, including getting Democratic bills signed by former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey. Shah also boasts bipartisan endorsements from a handful of Republicans, including former House Speaker Rusty Bowers.
Shah is also advertising his endorsement by Andrei Cherney, a Democrat who ran against Shah in the 2024 primary election.
For the 2026 race, six Democratic candidates have filed statements of interest to run, including Shah and his former opponent Marlene Galán-Woods.
In the upcoming election, Schweikert is running for his ninth term in office.
