Amish Shah defeated Marlene Galán-Woods, Rick McCartney, and Jonathan Treble in the Democratic primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District on July 21. Galán-Woods and Shah led in endorsements and media attention. Incumbent David Schweikert (R) ran for governor of Arizona.
Having voted for former President Joe Biden (D) in 2020 and President Donald Trump (R) in 2024, the district was one of the most competitive in the country and a top Democratic target in 2026. Before the election, The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball all rated the 1st District a toss-up.
12 News' Kevin Reagan wrote, "Republicans have a significant advantage over Democrats in the party's number of registered voters in CD1. But the district has over 180,000 non-affiliated voters who could sway the election's outcome." AZ Central's Laura Gersony added that the district "has historically preferred more moderate political figures."
