WASHINGTON — Former Arizona state Rep. Amish Shah has won the Democratic primary for a fiercely contested swing district in Arizona, delivering another blow to national Democrats who put support and money behind former broadcast journalist Marlene Galán-Woods. “I have always prided myself on being a hardworking, grassroots candidate,’’ Shah, an emergency room physician, said on social media ...

Amish Shah speaks during the Harris-Walz Campaign Election Eve rally and concert at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix, Arizona, on Nov. 4, 2024.

Patrick T. Fallon/AFP/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/TNS

WASHINGTON — Former Arizona state Rep. Amish Shah has won the Democratic primary for a fiercely contested swing district in Arizona, delivering another blow to national Democrats who put support and money behind former broadcast journalist Marlene Galán-Woods.

“I have always prided myself on being a hardworking, grassroots candidate,’’ Shah, an emergency room physician, said on social media Wednesday night, shortly after The Associated Press called the race for Arizona’s 1st District. “Our victory in this primary was a grassroots victory where Arizona voters made their voices heard.”

With an estimated 95% of the vote counted, Shah had around 39% to 34% for Galán-Woods, the AP reported. Entrepreneur Jonathan Treble and businessman Rick McCartney trailed with 18% and 8.5% respectively.

Shah now advances to a November matchup with the Republican primary winner, retired NFL kicker and sports commentator Jay Feely, who has the backing of President Donald Trump.

Feely portrayed the fall contest as a “clear and simple choice” for district voters.

“I’m a political outsider committed to delivering results,” he said in a statement. “Amish Shah is focused on partisan politics.”

The contest for the battleground 1st District, a wealthy suburban area northeast of Phoenix, could help determine which party controls the House. The Republican incumbent, eighth-term Rep. David Schweikert, opted against reelection to run for governor. (He lost Tuesday’s gubernatorial primary to fellow Republican Rep. Andy Biggs.)

Shah boasted the support of current and former state legislators, including former state House Speaker Rusty Bowers, a Republican who resisted pressure from Trump and his allies in 2020 to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in Arizona.

Both Galán-Woods and Shah were repeat candidates. Galán-Woods finished third in the 2024 Democratic primary won by Shah, who went on to lose to Schweikert by 4 points.

This time, Galán-Woods had the backing of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which also spent big on her behalf. That decision by the House Democrats’ campaign arm to pick sides in the primary drew criticism from Shah and other Arizona Democrats, including Rep. Adelita Grijalva. Galán-Woods, a former Republican, also had endorsements from Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, the campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and EMILY’s List.

Galán-Woods congratulated Shah on his victory, saying in a statement, “I look forward to working with him and fighting tirelessly to flip this seat in November.”

Her loss marks the third defeat of a DCCC-endorsed candidate this year: Two of the committee’s other picks — California State Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains and Maine state Sen. Joe Baldacci — also lost primaries for battleground seats.

Unlike those contests, the primary in Arizona’s 1st District did not break along ideological lines. Both Galán-Woods, who pitched herself to voters as a center-left Democrat who could win over independents and traditional Republicans, and Shah are moderates.

But the results reflect a Democratic base increasingly frustrated with the party establishment, and could signify trouble for other party-backed challengers and incumbents.

Republicans responded to the intraparty Democratic friction with glee.

“Democrats keep losing civil wars against their own socialist wing, and every defeat leaves them with a weaker nominee, an emptier bank account, and another must-win seat slipping further out of reach,’’ Mike Marinella, a spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement.

Earlier this year, after the DCCC placed Galán-Woods on its “Red to Blue” list for promising recruits,

Shah dismissed the committee’s decision to back his opponent as “meddling from D.C.”

But on Wednesday night, both sides appeared ready to move on.

DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene said in a statement that Shah would “always put his community first” and that Arizonans would “enthusiastically elect him this November.”

Shah said he would next focus on earning “the support of every voter in this district — including Democrats who voted for another candidate, Independents frustrated with our political system, and Republicans disappointed with the state of the country.”

Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the 1st District race a Toss-up.

The race is among three House contests in Arizona seen as competitive this fall.

In the 6th District in the state’s southeastern corner, Rep. Juan Ciscomani, one of the chamber’s most vulnerable Republicans, will face Democratic Marine veteran JoAnna Mendoza in a race also rated a Toss-up by Inside Elections.

And in the sprawling 2nd District, which covers northeastern and central Arizona and the exurbs of Phoenix and Tucson, Republican Rep. Eli Crane faces a rematch with Democrat Jonathan Nez, the former Navajo Nation president whom he defeated by 9 points in 2024. Inside Elections rates the contest Likely Republican.