Indian-American doctor Amish Shah wins Arizona Democratic primary, to face Trump-backed rival | World News

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jul 23, 2026 10:52 PM Indian-American doctor Amish Shah won the Democratic primary in a hotly contested congressional drict in Arizona, United States, defeating the establishment-backed candidate.
Shah, an emergency medicine doctor, is a moderate Democrat who shot to fame with his unique style of campaigning, wherein he reached out to 28,000 homes. Shah will face Republican candidate and former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who has been backed US President Donald Trump, for the November midterm election to the US Congress.

I have always prided myself on being a hardworking, grassroots candidate. Our victory in this primary was a grassroots victory where Arizona voters made their voices heard. Now, it’s my job to earn the support of every voter in this drict—including Democrats who voted for… pic.twitter.com/iczMEyEhyt
— Amish Shah, MD (@DrAmishShah) July 23, 2026
From NFL teammates to election rivals
Notably, before becoming political opponents, Shah and Feely were part of the same NFL team, where the Indian-origin doctor was the physician providing emergency care while Feely was the kicker, AP reported.

Today is Arizona’s primary election. If you haven’t voted yet, it’s time to make your voice heard. Let’s flip this drict once and for all with a Democratic candidate guided integrity, ready to put Arizona families first. Vote Dr. Amish Shah to be the Representative in… pic.twitter.com/DRLng46uZ3
— Amish Shah, MD (@DrAmishShah) July 21, 2026
Defeats establishment-backed rival
In the Democratic primary, Shah, who is a three-term member of the Arizona House of Representatives, defeated Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Marlene Galán-Woods, a former Republican who switched during Trump’s first tenure.
Woods became the third Democratic primary candidate to have lost a contested House primary this year, after Jasmeet Bains in California and Joe Baldacci in Maine.
Gujarati roots and medical career
Amish Shah was born to Gujarati parents who immigrated to the United States in 1960s, and earned his medical degree from the Northwestern University at Northwestern University Medical School as part of the Honours Program in Medical Education, PTI reported.
For his Master’s in Public Health at the University of California, Berkeley, Shah obtained a full merit scholarship which was followed residency training in Emergency Medicine at New York City’s Level-1 trauma centre.
‘A grassroots victory,’ says Shah
After winning the Democratic nomination, Shah said, “Our victory in this primary was a grassroots victory where Arizona voters made their voices heard. Now, it’s my job to earn the support of every voter in this drict – including Democrats who voted for another candidate, Independents frustrated with our political system, and Republicans disappointed with the state of the country,” PTI reported.
Expand

The Express Global Desk at which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis.

A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students.

All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence.

Core Team

The Express Global Desk is led a team of experienced journals and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy:

Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership.

Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage.

Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram