Indian-American Democrat Amish Shah is locked in one of the most closely watched congressional contests of the 2026 cycle, facing Republican Jay Feely — a former NFL kicker and longtime friend and golf partner of President Donald Trump — in Arizona's 1st Congressional District. With the general election set for 3 November, Trump and his allies are making a last-minute push to deliver the seat for Feely.

Trump's Personal Stake in the Race

According to Politico, Trump has known Feely 'for decades as a friend and golf partner' and views the former Arizona Cardinals kicker as a formidable candidate. Two Trump officials familiar with their relationship confirmed the president's personal investment in the outcome. Republican groups have poured more than $22 million into boosting Feely's campaign, with much of that spending concentrated in the final weeks of the race.

Notably, Feely — a longtime Gilbert resident — originally entered the 5th district race before switching to the 1st district at Trump's urging, according to reports.

Who Is Amish Shah

Amish Shah is an emergency room physician and former Arizona state legislator. He previously contested the same district in 2024, losing to Republican David Schweikert by 3.8 percentage points. The district covers Scottsdale, parts of northeast Phoenix, Fountain Hills, and Cave Creek — a suburban belt with a Republican registration edge but a significant independent voter bloc.

The Data Centre Clash at the Debate

The two candidates clashed sharply over data centres at a recent Clean Elections debate. Shah argued that his constituents have made their opposition clear. 'When I'm talking to the voters, what they have said to me clearly is they don't want them in CD-1,' he said.

Feely pushed back on the economic case. 'They add about a billion dollars in revenue to the state of Arizona. That's giving you the opportunity to increase teacher's pay,' he said. He also accused Shah of inconsistency, noting that Shah had previously voted for the tax credits that brought data centres to the state. 'I think it's really hypocritical for you to stand up here and say to the voters that you're now against data centers,' Feely said.

Shah attributed his position shift to the rise of artificial intelligence and its energy demands. 'However, when the situation changes and suddenly you've got massive amounts of people applying as we have seen, and you see that you're going to double the amount of wattage that these things are going to take. You're going to have to think about the ratepayers,' he said.

How Outside Money Is Shaping the Race

Federal filings reveal heavy outside spending on both sides. The MAGA Inc.-funded Safety & Affordability PAC has spent $5.72 million against Shah, while the House Majority PAC has deployed $4.41 million against Feely. Total Republican-aligned spending exceeds $22 million, reflecting the national stakes attached to this seat.

Ratings and Voter Math

Despite Republicans holding a registration advantage — making up 38% of voters against 26%-plus Democrats and 35% independents or third-party registrants — both the Cook Political Report and Inside Elections currently favour Shah, rating the race 'lean Democratic' and 'tilt Democratic' respectively.

Pollster Marcus Dell'Artino told the Arizona Capitol Times: 'If independents show up in big numbers, it favors Shah. If they don't, it favors Feely.' The last day for Arizona voters to request an early ballot was 23 October, tightening the window for both campaigns. All eyes now turn to 3 November.