Amish Shah flips Arizona’s 1st District for Democrats

Amish Shah has won Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, defeating Republican Jay Feely and flipping a competitive Scottsdale-area seat to the Democrats. The Associated Press called the race for Shah on November 5. At the time of the call, he led Feely 53% to 46%. The district includes Scottsdale and Cave Creek and has been represented by Republicans for years.

The seat was open because Republican David Schweikert, who had represented the area for 15 years, ran for governor rather than seek reelection. Shah narrowly lost to Schweikert in 2024. Shah is an emergency room doctor and former member of the Arizona state House; Feely is a former NFL kicker.

Shah declared victory before the race was officially called, pledging to represent residents regardless of how they voted and to work across party lines. He named lowering costs, expanding health care coverage, addressing Arizona’s water crisis and growing the economy as priorities.

The candidates framed the contest around their opponent’s politics. Feely’s campaign ads called Shah a socialist, while Shah argued Feely would be beholden to President Donald Trump rather than district residents. Trump endorsed Feely and encouraged him to run.

Shah’s win adds to a broader Democratic victory that, according to the reports, gives the party control of both chambers of Congress in 2027. Republicans had faced a difficult environment defending their congressional majority, amid voter dissatisfaction over the economy and calls for more congressional oversight.

Shah’s Win Delivers Democrats a Competitive Arizona Seat

Voters in Arizona’s competitive 1st Congressional District chose Democrat Amish Shah over Republican Jay Feely, handing Democrats a seat that had been represented by Republicans for years. The Associated Press called the race for Shah on November 5, with Shah leading 53% to 46% at the time.

Shah, an emergency room doctor and former state legislator, campaigned on health care reform, affordability and lowering prices. He also emphasized addressing Arizona’s water crisis and growing the economy. After declaring victory, Shah said he would represent constituents whether or not they supported him and pledged to work across party lines.

The campaign put Trump’s influence at the center of the contest. Feely had Trump’s endorsement and was encouraged by the president to run. Shah argued Feely would be beholden to Trump rather than Arizonans in the district. Feely’s campaign, in turn, ran ads labeling Shah a socialist.

The seat opened when Republican David Schweikert ran unsuccessfully for governor instead of seeking reelection. Shah had narrowly lost to Schweikert in 2024. Shah’s win strengthens a Democratic majority in Congress beginning in 2027, as Republicans faced voter discontent over the economy and demands for more congressional oversight. The result makes the district’s choice clear: voters opted for Shah’s focus on costs and health care over Feely’s alignment with Trump.

Trump-Backed Feely Falls as Democrats Flip Arizona Seat

Republicans lost Arizona’s 1st Congressional District to Democrat Amish Shah, who defeated former NFL kicker Jay Feely in a race shaped by national party politics. When the Associated Press called the contest for Shah on November 5, he led 53% to Feely’s 46%.

Feely had President Donald Trump’s endorsement and was encouraged by Trump to enter the race. He said he had been a close friend of the president for two decades. Shah sought to make that connection a liability, telling voters Feely would answer to Trump rather than people in the district. Feely’s campaign countered with ads portraying Shah as a socialist.

The district, which includes Scottsdale and Cave Creek, had been represented by Republican David Schweikert for 15 years. Schweikert ran for governor rather than seek another House term, leaving the seat open. Shah, an emergency room doctor and former state legislator, had narrowly lost to Schweikert in 2024.

Shah pledged to work across party lines and listed lowering costs, expanding health care coverage, tackling the water crisis and growing the economy among his priorities. His victory adds to the Democratic majority in Congress set to take office in 2027. Republicans had been defending their majority amid voter dissatisfaction over the economy and calls for greater congressional oversight; Feely’s defeat underscores how difficult that national environment proved for the party.