Who is Amish Shah? All You Need to Know About Indian-Origin Democrat Leading in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District Race For US Elections 2024
Amish Shah, a 44-year-old Phoenix-based emergency room doctor and former state lawmaker, secured his place as the Democratic nominee after winning a competitive six-way primary. He served in the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 24 from 2018, later moving to District 5 after redistricting.
New York, November 6: Amish Shah, a Democrat of Indian origin, is holding a slight lead in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District race against incumbent Republican David Schweikert, covering Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills.
According to The New York Times, Shah currently has 50.9% of the vote compared to Schweikert’s 49.1%, making it a tightly contested race.
Who is Amish Shah?
Shah, a 44-year-old Phoenix-based emergency room doctor and former state lawmaker, secured his place as the Democratic nominee after winning a competitive six-way primary. He served in the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 24 from 2018, later moving to District 5 after redistricting. Known for his pragmatic, bipartisan approach, Shah was one of the few Democrats to pass legislation in Arizona’s Republican-led legislature, earning comparisons to independent U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema for his centrist stances and ability to work across party lines. US Presidential Election Results 2024: 6 Indian Americans Win Polls of House of Representatives; Suhas Subramanyam Elected From Virginia.
Shah’s campaign focused on bipartisanship, a key focus as he challenges Schweikert. Highlighting his legislative record, he appeals to both moderates and Democrats by advocating for secure borders while supporting abortion rights, a major Democratic issue. His economic platform includes opposition to Trump-era tax cuts, advocating instead for higher taxes on earners over USD 500,000 and federal efforts to expand affordable housing in Arizona. US Presidential Election Results 2024: Suhas Subramanyam on Way to Congress, Increasing ‘Samosa Caucus’ to 6.
As a physician, Shah is deeply invested in healthcare reform. Once a single-payer system advocate, he now supports flexible models, citing inspiration from Sen. Bernie Sanders’ healthcare proposals. He also backs reducing healthcare costs, universal pre-kindergarten, and expanded healthcare access, aligning his platform with Arizona’s pressing needs.
With his background in medicine and state politics, Shah seeks to represent Arizona’s 1st District as a pragmatic leader with cross-party appeal.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 06, 2024 03:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).