Amish Shah projected to win Arizona's 1st District Democratic primary

Amish Shah is projected to win the Democratic primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District, setting up a general election contest against Republican nominee Jay Feely. The Associated Press made the projection following Tuesday's primaries.

Shah's victory over Marlene Galán-Woods, a former broadcast journalist who switched from Republican to Democrat, represents another significant defeat for candidates backed by the national Democratic Party. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has faced challenges after its preferred candidates lost in other key races.

Arizona's 1st District, encompassing Scottsdale and surrounding areas, is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive House races. The incumbent, eight-term GOP Rep. David Schweikert, chose not to seek re-election in this district, instead running in the Republican primary for governor, which he lost. Schweikert previously represented Arizona's 5th and 6th districts.

Galán-Woods, widow of former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, had the national party's support against Shah, a physician and former state legislator who was the Democrats' nominee in 2024. Shah lost to Schweikert by nearly 4 percentage points in that election, while Galán-Woods finished third. Galán-Woods had recently signed a pledge criticizing the Democratic Party's left wing, highlighting internal party divisions.

In the Republican primary, Feely, an NFL veteran and former CBS Sports analyst, defeated former state lawmaker Joseph Chaplik. Feely initially ran in Arizona's 5th District but was encouraged by former President Trump to switch districts. Trump later endorsed both Feely and Gina Swoboda, former chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party, for the 1st District primary, though Swoboda later withdrew to run for secretary of state. Trump issued another endorsement of Feely earlier this month.