PHOENIX, Ariz. (Diya TV) — Democrat Amish Shah led Republican Jay Feely by 22,388 votes in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District as officials continued counting ballots Wednesday. Shah had 52.5% of the vote to Feely’s 45.4%, according to figures reported by KTAR. The Associated Press had not called the race.
The open seat became one of Democrats’ top House targets after Republican Rep. David Schweikert left to run for governor. Former President Donald Trump carried the district by about three percentage points in 2024. Although Republicans hold a voter-registration advantage, the district includes competitive communities in Phoenix, Scottsdale and the northeast Valley.
The race’s early returns shifted as officials added ballots. Feely led after the first results came in, but Shah moved ahead. The latest figures available Wednesday morning covered about 85% of the expected vote; officials had not said how many ballots remained.
Shah and Feely shared a connection before they became political opponents: both worked for the New York Jets. Shah served as a sideline physician while Feely kicked for the team. On the campaign trail, Feely called Shah a socialist and aligned him with Sen. Bernie Sanders. Shah argued Feely would prioritize loyalty to Trump over the district.
They also clashed over data centers. Feely said Arizona needs the facilities to compete with China in artificial intelligence, while calling for projects outside residential areas and greater use of recycled water. Shah opposed building data centers in the district, citing the state’s water constraints. He also campaigned on health care and affordability; Feely emphasized tax cuts, energy production and border security.
Outside groups spent more than $25 million after the primary, KTAR reported. About $16 million went toward supporting Feely, mostly through ads attacking Shah, while roughly $9 million supported Shah. Those expenditures far exceeded the campaigns’ cash reserves reported in mid-October.
Shah, an emergency-room physician and former Arizona state lawmaker, first sought the seat in 2024 and lost to Schweikert by fewer than four percentage points. This year, he won the Democratic primary over former television journalist Marlene Galán-Woods and two other candidates, despite national Democratic groups spending millions to oppose him.
Shah did not claim victory Tuesday night. He told supporters he would keep meeting voters and represent residents who backed Feely as well as those who supported him. Election officials must finish counting ballots before the Associated Press or Arizona can declare a winner.
