Indian-origin physician wins Democratic primary in Arizona

Amish Shah, an Indian-origin physician, has emerged as the winner of the Democratic Party’s crowded primary for a district in the US state of Arizona.

This sets the stage for a tough election in November where he will face a Republican rival. Shah, aged 47, secured victory in Arizona’s First Congressional District after his main opponent, Andrei Cherny, conceded on Thursday. Shah, a former state representative, led by 1,629 votes and held a 23.9% to 21.4% lead when Cherny conceded.

Shah’s win came in a crowded Democratic field that included Cherny, ex-local news anchor Marlene Galan-Woods, orthodontist Andrew Horne, ex-regional American Red Cross CEO Kurt Kroemer, and investment banker Conor O’Callaghan. In the upcoming election, Shah will go head-to-head against the seven-term incumbent Republican, David Schweikert, who easily won his primary election on Tuesday.

The district is known for being competitive in Arizona, with Schweikert narrowly defeating Democrat Jevin Hodge by less than a percentage point in 2022. Beyond his medical practice, Shah founded the first Arizona Vegetarian Food Festival as a philanthropic endeavor to promote healthy eating and eliminate preventable diseases.

Since 2019, he has also served as a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, representing Central Phoenix, Sunnyslope, and South Scottsdale.