Indian-American emergency physician Amish Shah has won Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, defeating Trump-backed Republican Jay Feely. After losing in 2024, Shah made a political comeback, becoming the first South Asian American elected to represent Arizona in the US Congress.
Indian-American emergency physician and Democratic politician Amish Shah has won Arizona’s 1st Congressional District election, defeating Trump-backed Republican candidate Jay Feely and completing a remarkable political comeback after his defeat in the 2024 congressional race. His victory marks a significant milestone for the Indian-American community, as he is set to become the first South Asian American to represent Arizona in the United States Congress.
The election result, announced on Thursday, brings Shah’s journey from emergency medicine and professional football sidelines to the US House of Representatives. Interestingly, before entering the political contest, Shah and Feely had worked for the same National Football League (NFL) team. Shah served as a physician on the New York Jets’ sidelines, while Feely played for the team as its kicker.
Shah defeated Feely in a closely watched contest for the Scottsdale-area congressional district, which Republican President Donald Trump had carried by approximately three percentage points in the 2024 presidential election. The seat became vacant after Republican Congressman David Schweikert decided to run for governor.
Following his victory, Shah pledged to work across party lines in Congress, drawing on his experience in the Arizona Legislature.
“I pledge to work in a bipartisan way in Congress, just like I did in the State House,” Shah said in his victory statement.
Indian American Impact, an advocacy organisation that supported his campaign, described the result as an important achievement for South Asian American representation in national politics.
From Chicago to Arizona: Shah’s Indian-American Background
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Amish Shah is the son of Indian immigrants who arrived in the United States in 1969. His parents were engineering students, and they maintained strong family connections with Gujarat by regularly taking him to India.
His father belongs to the Jain tradition, while his mother is Hindu. Shah attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school, growing up with exposure to different religious and cultural traditions.
He has often spoken about how his Jain upbringing influenced his political philosophy, particularly its emphasis on nonviolence, nonmaterialism and respect for different perspectives.
In a 2023 interview with an Indian publication, Shah said the teachings he received at Jain temples and conferences had influenced the way he approached politics and public service.
A visit to Mahatma Gandhi’s Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat also played an important role in shaping his interest in public service. Shah has said Gandhi’s message made a strong impression on him before he entered electoral politics.
Medical Career Before Entering Politics
Before pursuing a political career, Shah established himself in the medical profession. He earned degrees in economics and medicine from Northwestern University, worked in management consulting and subsequently completed a Master of Public Health degree at the University of California, Berkeley.
He received emergency medicine training at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx, New York. Later, he worked at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and Elmhurst Hospital in Queens.
During his time at Mount Sinai, Shah led the New York Jets’ airway management team, providing medical support connected with the professional football organisation. He also conducted research into emergency medical care in professional football.
He later completed a sports medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona, further expanding his experience in medical care and sports-related health services.
Beyond medicine and politics, Shah speaks Gujarati and conversational Spanish, flies small aircraft and founded the Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival. His personal interests also include animal welfare, reflected in several legislative initiatives he supported.
Legislative Experience and Bipartisan Approach
Shah first entered electoral politics in 2018, winning a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives. He was subsequently re-elected in 2020 and 2022.
During his time in the state legislature, Democrats were in the minority, prompting Shah to work with Republican lawmakers to advance legislation.
His legislative record included proposals relating to animal welfare, public safety and community concerns. In 2022, he supported a proposal to prohibit cat declawing, although the measure did not become law.
He also co-sponsored an overnight fireworks restriction introduced by Republican Senator J.D. Mesnard and supported an animal microchip-scanning measure introduced by Republican Representative John Kavanagh. Both proposals eventually became law.
Although Shah contributed to advancing these measures, he was not their principal author.
Public safety also became an important issue during his congressional campaign. The Maricopa County deputies’ association endorsed Shah over Feely, citing his support for law enforcement resources. His willingness to work across party lines on certain law enforcement measures, including legislation addressing fentanyl, helped challenge Republican criticism of his position on policing.
Healthcare and Affordability at the Centre of His Campaign
Healthcare access and rising household expenses were among the major issues highlighted by Shah during his election campaign.
He previously supported universal, single-payer Medicare for All at a 2019 event associated with Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign. More recently, he advocated allowing Americans to purchase coverage through a Medicare buy-in option.
Shah argued that expanding access to Medicare could create downward pressure on healthcare prices and provide more affordable coverage options.
His Republican opponent attempted to portray him as a socialist by referring to his earlier political associations. However, Phoenix’s Democratic Socialists of America chapter rejected claims that Shah was a member of the organisation, with its leadership describing him as a moderate.
During the campaign, Shah also criticised Trump’s tariff policies, arguing that unpredictable trade decisions made it difficult for businesses to plan investments. He called for reversing the tariffs and ending the Iran war, saying the conflict was contributing to higher gasoline prices.
Political Comeback After 2024 Defeat
Shah’s victory followed a difficult political journey. He resigned from the Arizona House in early 2024 to contest the congressional election against David Schweikert. However, he narrowly lost that contest in November 2024.
His return to the congressional race involved another challenge within the Democratic Party. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee initially endorsed former television journalist Marlene Galan-Woods in the Democratic primary.
Despite not receiving the party establishment’s initial preference, Shah defeated Galan-Woods to secure the Democratic nomination. The committee subsequently supported his general election campaign.
Reflecting on the primary victory, Shah told supporters that he had been willing to challenge the party establishment and that voters wanted an independent approach.
The general election campaign against Feely attracted more than $25 million in outside spending after the primary, according to reports. Approximately $16 million supported Feely, much of it through advertisements targeting Shah, while around $9 million supported Shah.
Shah focused heavily on affordability, healthcare, economic growth, immigration and water-related concerns affecting Arizona residents. He also expressed support for skilled Indian workers seeking opportunities in the United States and advocated comprehensive immigration reform.
New Responsibilities in the US Congress
Following his victory, Shah returned to the issues that shaped his campaign, including living costs, healthcare coverage, water security and economic development.
He also promised to represent all constituents, including those who had voted against him.
“I will try my best to keep that trust sacred,” Shah told KTAR following the election.
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The new Congress is scheduled to convene on January 3. Shah will enter the US House after defeating both his party leadership’s initially preferred candidate in the primary and a Republican opponent backed by President Donald Trump in the general election.
His victory represents a notable achievement for Indian-American political representation in the United States. However, his next challenge will be translating his campaign promises and bipartisan approach into meaningful legislative action while representing a politically divided congressional district.
