Indian-American doctor wins Democratic primary in Arizona

Amish Shah, a 47-year-old Indian-American physician and former Arizona state representative, won the Democratic primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District. This district includes parts of northeastern Phoenix. Shah, who has served in the Arizona State House for five years, is now gearing up for a competitive election in November against the seven-term incumbent Republican, David Schweikert.

Shah's parents immigrated to the US from India in the 1960s. His father is a Jain, and his mother a Hindu.

Shah led by 1,629 votes and had a 23.9% to 21.4% advantage when his main opponent, Andrei Cherny, conceded, according to KTAR News.

"While it's hard to come so close and fall short, win or lose, there are dreams worth chasing and things worth fighting for – and democracy, freedom, and America's future couldn’t be higher on that list," Andrei Cherny wrote on X.

However, Shah has not yet released any statement about his victory in the Democratic primary.

SHAH WON CROWDED DEMOCRATIC FIELD

Shah emerged victorious in a crowded Democratic field that included former local news anchor Marlene Galan-Woods, orthodontist Andrew Horne, former regional American Red Cross CEO Kurt Kroemer, and investment banker Conor O’Callaghan.

The district is known for its competitiveness, with Schweikert narrowly defeating Democrat Jevin Hodge by less than one percent in 2022, reported KTAR news.

Born and raised in Chicago, Shah has been saving lives as an emergency department physician for 20 years. His parents, engineering students, immigrated to the US from India in the 1960s.

In addition to his medical career, Shah founded the Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival to promote healthy eating and prevent diseases.

Since 2019, he has represented Central Phoenix, Sunnyslope, and South Scottsdale in the Arizona House of Representatives.

His victory in the primary sets the stage for a high-stakes race against Schweikert, whose political future is uncertain due to recent controversies and scandals.