Dr. Amish Shah, the Democratic nominee for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, is seeking to become the first Indian-American to represent the state in the US Congress.
By Geeta Goindi
October 26, 2026 – Accomplished physician Dr. Amish Shah is seeking to make history as the first person of Indian origin to represent Arizona in the U.S. Congress, as he campaigns for a closely contested House seat in the November 3 general election.
The Democratic nominee for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, Shah faces Republican Jay Feely, a former National Football League (NFL) kicker backed by President Donald Trump, in a race that could help determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Shah has already made history in Arizona politics. In 2018, he became the first Indian-American elected to the Arizona State Legislature, where he established a record of bipartisan legislative cooperation.
Drawing on more than two decades of experience in emergency and sports medicine, Shah brought a healthcare perspective to his work in the Arizona House of Representatives, where he served from 2019 to 2024.
During his tenure, he had more bills signed into law than any other Arizona Democrat over a decade, according to his campaign, working across party lines on healthcare and education.
Shah secured the Democratic nomination in July, defeating three opponents, including former television journalist Marlene Galán-Woods, who had the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
His victory followed an extensive grassroots effort built around direct voter engagement. Shah says he has personally knocked on more than 28,000 doors, a strategy that has become a hallmark of his political career.
The seat is open after Republican incumbent David Schweikert chose to run for Arizona governor. Encompassing Scottsdale, parts of northeastern Phoenix, Fountain Hills and Cave Creek, the district is among the closely watched congressional battlegrounds in the country.
In 2008, Shah worked as a sideline physician responsible for emergency airway management for the New York Jets, while Feely was the team’s kicker. Now, nearly two decades later, the two are competing for the same congressional seat.
Drawing on his experience as a physician, Shah has made affordable healthcare a central focus of his campaign, advocating lower insurance premiums, reduced prescription drug costs and protection of reproductive rights.
His platform also emphasizes reducing everyday expenses, supporting small businesses and protecting Social Security and Medicare.
Indian Heritage and Jain Values
Born and raised in Chicago to parents who immigrated from Gujarat, India, Shah grew up in a household that combined Indian traditions with an American upbringing.
His father, Satish Shah, is Jain, while his mother is Hindu. He attended Catholic schools from kindergarten through high school, an experience that exposed him to different religious and cultural perspectives.
Fluent in Gujarati, Shah has maintained strong connections to his heritage, which he credits with influencing his approach to public service.
Of particular significance is Anekantavada, the Jain philosophical principle that truth is multifaceted and that different viewpoints deserve consideration.
Shah has linked this teaching to his bipartisan approach, emphasizing the importance of listening to people with differing opinions and finding common ground.
The Jain principle of Ahimsa, or nonviolence, has also influenced his vegetarian lifestyle and commitment to animal welfare. He founded the Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival to promote plant-based living.
A graduate of Northwestern University, where he earned bachelor’s and medical degrees, Shah also holds a Master of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley.
Outside medicine and politics, he is a licensed pilot who has used his flying skills to assist underserved communities.
Indian-American Representation in Congress
Shah’s candidacy comes at a significant moment for Indian-American political representation in Washington.
Six lawmakers of Indian origin currently serve in the U.S. House of Representatives: Ami Bera and Ro Khanna of California, Pramila Jayapal of Washington, Raja Krishnamoorthi of Illinois, Shri Thanedar of Michigan and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia. All are Democrats.
Informally known as the “Samosa Caucus,” the group is set to undergo changes following the 2026 elections.
Krishnamoorthi chose to pursue a U.S. Senate seat rather than seek House reelection but lost the Democratic primary, while Thanedar was defeated in his congressional primary.
Their departures could reduce Indian-American representation in the House unless new candidates win in November.
Among those seeking election are Shah in Arizona and Pia Dandiya, the Democratic nominee in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District.
Both have been endorsed by Indian American Impact, a political organization working to increase political participation and representation among Americans of Indian and other South Asian origins.
Following Shah’s primary victory, the organization’s executive director, Chintan Patel, praised his grassroots campaign.
“Amish Shah built a campaign from the ground up and won,” Patel said. “He personally talked to thousands of voters across this district, voters hungry for change who refuse to accept the status quo, and that’s what carried him to victory tonight.”
Indian American Impact invested $250,000 in Shah’s primary campaign and pledged continued support ahead of the November election.
As voters prepare to head to the polls on November 3, Shah’s candidacy reflects the expanding role of Indian-Americans in public life, from medicine and community service to elected office.
For the physician who made history in Arizona’s state legislature, the election offers an opportunity to achieve another milestone, this time on the national stage.
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