Indian-American congressman-elect Amish Shah on 7 November called on the US Congress to reclaim authority over the ongoing war with Iran, signalling aggressive oversight of President Donald Trump's administration even before he takes office in Washington.

'We've got to take the authority away from the president on this because Congress has the responsibility to declare war,' Shah said during an appearance on AZFamily's Good Morning Arizona programme.

Who Is Amish Shah

Shah, a Democrat, is an emergency room physician and former Arizona state legislator who defeated Republican Jay Feely — a former professional football player — in Arizona's 1st Congressional District. He will succeed Republican David Schweikert in the Scottsdale-area seat. Shah had narrowly lost a bid for the same seat in 2024 before winning it this cycle. Schweikert vacated the seat to run for Arizona governor, creating an open contest. Shah is expected to be sworn in when the new Congress convenes in January.

Key Demands on Iran War

Shah said he wanted Defence Department officials to provide a comprehensive plan and a range of options for ending the conflict. While he praised the military's performance, he criticised the administration's handling of the war. He acknowledged that bringing the war to a close would be difficult, but argued that reopening the Strait of Hormuz could help drive down petrol prices — a concern he said voters had raised repeatedly throughout his campaign.

Household Costs and Oversight Agenda

Shah connected the war's geopolitical stakes directly to kitchen-table economics, linking congressional oversight to financial pressures — including groceries, fuel, housing and health insurance — that he said defined the campaign. He said lawmakers needed to scrutinise policies he believed had worsened those pressures and pledged to work across party lines on cost-of-living issues.

In a Friday post on X, Shah said he had met Schweikert the previous day to ensure a smooth office transition, thanking the outgoing lawmaker for his service and pledging his office would be ready from day one. In a separate post, he identified lowering costs, protecting healthcare and safeguarding Arizona's water as his top priorities.

Campaign Finance and What's Next

The race was expensive. Super PACs spent $16.2 million to help elect Feely, according to Federal Election Commission filings cited by Cronkite News, the news organisation of Arizona State University's journalism school. On the Democratic side, House Majority PAC spent $6.4 million supporting Shah. In his victory statement, Shah pledged to represent the entire district — including those who voted against him — and listed expanding healthcare coverage, addressing water shortages and growing the economy as priorities alongside affordability. Transition discussions with Schweikert are already under way.