PHOENIX, November 5, 2026 – Indian-American physician and Democratic lawmaker Amish Shah has made history by becoming the first member of the community to be elected to represent Arizona in the United States Congress.
Shah, 48, claimed a major victory in a highly competitive race for the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. According to the election results, he secured 52.49% of the vote, successfully defeating his Republican opponent, former NFL player Jay Feely. Crucially, Shah’s victory flips a previously Republican-held seat to the Democratic Party.
“Arizona, it’s the honor of a lifetime to be your next congressman,” Shah expressed on the social media platform X shortly after the race was called on Wednesday.
Born in Chicago to Gujarati parents who immigrated to the United States in the 1960s, Dr. Shah brings a robust background in both medicine and local governance to Capitol Hill. He completed his medical training in New York and earned a master’s degree in public health from UC Berkeley. Prior to his successful congressional bid, Shah served three terms in the Arizona House of Representatives, where he built a reputation for focusing on healthcare access and public safety.
His campaign was marked by intense grassroots outreach. According to Indian American Impact, a political organization supporting his run, Shah personally knocked on over 28,000 doors across his district, engaging directly with voters on key issues like healthcare affordability, rising living costs, and the protection of voting rights.
With this landmark win, Shah becomes the sixth Indian-American elected to the current U.S. House of Representatives. His victory joins a wave of strong performances by Indian-American candidates in the 2026 midterm elections, further cementing the rapidly growing political footprint of the diaspora in American national politics.
Published by True Roots Media Network