Washington, DC: Indian American and former Arizona state representative Amish Shah has secured the Democratic primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District. This district covers parts of northeastern Phoenix and three affluent suburbs. Shah's victory sets the stage for a competitive election in November against the seven-term incumbent Republican, David Schweikert.
Amish Shah, MD, MPH was born and raised in Chicago. His mother and father were engineering students who immigrated from India in the 1960s. His website states, his father is Jain and mother a Hindu.
He founded the first Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival as a philanthropic endeavor to promote healthy eating and eliminate preventable disease. Now in its seventh year, it attracts thousands annually
Shah is a medical doctor who previously served in the Arizona Legislature. He aims to represent the district, which includes areas such as north Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, and Paradise Valley. He will challenge David Schweikert, a long-serving Republican congressman, who easily won his party's nomination. Schweikert's tenure has been marred by ethics scandals, including significant fines for campaign finance violations.
