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Former state Rep. Amish Shah defeated former broadcast journalist Marlene Galán-Woods in the Democratic primary for Arizona’s open 1st Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Shah’s victory on Wednesday delivers a blow to national Democrats, who lined up behind Galán-Woods — a Republican-turned-Democrat who was married to the late state attorney general Grant Woods — in the race for the battleground seat representing the northeastern Phoenix suburbs left open by outgoing Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.). The incumbent opted to run for governor.
Shah, a physician, defeated Galán-Woods and three other Democrats to take on Republican former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who is endorsed by President Trump. Shah was the Democratic nominee for the district in 2024.
Some of the state’s most prominent Democrats endorsed Galán-Woods, including Sen. Mark Kelly, state Attorney General Kris Mayes, state Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and former Gov. Janet Napolitano. House Democrats’ campaign arm also backed Galán-Woods over Shah despite supporting the former state legislator in 2024. Shah secured support from two former state House minority leaders — Lupe Contreras and Andrés Cano — and former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R).
Feely, who played for the Arizona Cardinals for a few years, defeated two other Republicans — tech CEO John Trobough and former state Rep. Joseph Chaplik — for the GOP nomination.
The Phoenix-area seat is seen as a must-win for Democrats as they look to flip the lower chamber in November. Trump won the district in 2024 by just over 3 percentage points, according to The Downballot.
The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates the seat a “toss-up.”
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