Democratic PAC tops $18 million in Indian-American Shah, Dandiya races
Synopsis
Two Indian-American Democratic candidates are at the centre of a combined $18.48 million Democratic super PAC blitz — with Republicans pouring over $9.4 million against Dandiya alone. The scale makes these among the most expensive House races involving Indian-American candidates in US electoral history, and the final tallies are still climbing.
Key Takeaways
House Majority PAC has spent a combined $18,483,371.72 across the races of Amish Shah (Arizona's 1st) and Pia Dandiya (Florida's 22nd) as of 28 October .
A single day of spending on 27 October added approximately $6.09 million across both contests.
No Going Back PAC , backed by MAGA Inc. , has spent $9,450,178.72 against Dandiya in Florida.
Arizona's 1st district has attracted roughly $25.4 million in total outside spending since July — the most of any House race in the state.
Dandiya raised $102,144.75 from 49 contributions on 26–27 October , including from UAW and CWA political arms.
Both seats are Democratic targets in the 3 November midterm elections; spending figures remain subject to FEC amendment.
The House Majority PAC, the primary Democratic super PAC targeting US House seats, has now reported cumulative spending exceeding $18 million across the congressional races of Indian-American Democratic candidates Amish Shah in Arizona and Pia Dandiya in Florida, according to a review of Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings ahead of the 3 November midterm elections.
The group's latest 24-hour report, signed on 28 October and covering expenditures dated 27 October, places its running total at $12,098,456.27 in Florida's 22nd congressional district and $6,384,915.45 in Arizona's 1st congressional district — a combined $18,483,371.72. A single day of spending on 27 October added approximately $6.09 million across both contests.
Where the Money Is Going
In Florida's FL-22, the PAC reported spending $3,534,624 on television advertising against Republican candidate Casey Askar, $339,120 on radio, $184,736 on digital advertising, $54,930.88 on mail, and an additional $11,250 in digital ads directly supporting Dandiya — all within a single reporting period.
In Arizona's AZ-1, the PAC reported $1,911,519.65 on television ads against Republican Tom Feely, along with $58,008 on digital advertising. The previous day's filing had placed the FL-22 cumulative total at $7,973,795.39 and the AZ-1 total at $4,415,387.80, underscoring the pace at which spending has accelerated in the final stretch.
Republicans Escalate in Florida
No Going Back PAC, a super PAC funded by MAGA Inc. — the principal outside group backing President Donald Trump — has also ramped up its Florida operation. The group reported two additional television buys against Dandiya through MHB Media: $1,516,950 dated 26 October and $1,450,800 dated 28 October. This brings its total spending against her to $9,450,178.72, according to its own FEC filing.
Candidate Fundraising and Donor Profile
Dandiya separately reported raising $102,144.75 from 49 contributions on 26 and 27 October in a pre-election 48-hour notice. Donors included the Communications Workers of America's political arm, the United Auto Workers' V-CAP, and Innovation for Good PAC, each contributing $5,000, as well as campaign committees of sitting Democratic lawmakers.
Amish Shah, a physician and former Arizona state legislator, is contesting a Phoenix-area seat. Both Shah and Dandiya are children of immigrants from India. Arizona's 1st district has drawn roughly $25.4 million in total outside spending since the July primary — the highest of any House race in the state, according to Phoenix broadcaster KTAR.
Context and Caveats
The spending data comes from self-reported electronic FEC filings that have not yet been formally processed by the Commission and remain subject to amendment. Super PAC cumulative totals on each report are running figures, and media buy amounts are often estimates at the time of filing. This is the first election cycle in which two Indian-American Democrats have simultaneously attracted this scale of outside investment in House races, making the contests among the most expensive involving Indian-American candidates in recent history.
With 3 November less than a week away, the trajectory of outside spending in both districts shows no sign of slowing, and final totals are expected to rise further before election day.
Point of View
Now past $9.4 million, tells an equally pointed story. These are not safe Democratic pick-ups; they are genuine toss-ups where outside money is substituting for candidate strength. The Indian-American dimension is symbolically significant, but the more consequential question is whether carpet-bombing television markets in the final week actually moves late-deciding voters, or whether both parties are bidding against each other in an arms race that overestimates ad saturation effects.
NationPress
30 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much has House Majority PAC spent in the Amish Shah and Pia Dandiya races?
House Majority PAC has reported a combined total of $18,483,371.72 across both races as of 28 October — $12,098,456.27 in Florida's 22nd district for Dandiya and $6,384,915.45 in Arizona's 1st district for Shah. The figures are from self-reported FEC filings and may be amended.
Who is Amish Shah and what race is he running in?
Amish Shah is a physician and former Arizona state legislator running in Arizona's 1st congressional district, a Phoenix-area seat. He is a child of immigrants from India and is running as a Democrat against Republican Tom Feely.
Who is Pia Dandiya and what is the Republican spending against her?
Pia Dandiya is a Democratic candidate in Florida's 22nd congressional district and is also a child of immigrants from India. The Republican-aligned No Going Back PAC, funded by MAGA Inc., has spent $9,450,178.72 against her as of 28 October.
Why is Arizona's 1st congressional district significant in this election cycle?
Arizona's 1st district has attracted approximately $25.4 million in outside spending since the July primary, making it the most expensive House race in the state. The combined Democratic and Republican investment has turned it into one of the most closely watched contests of the 2026 midterms.
Are the FEC spending figures final?
No. The spending data comes from self-reported electronic filings that the FEC has not yet formally processed, meaning they are subject to amendment. Media buy figures in particular are often initial estimates at the time of filing.
