Republican David Schweikert wins reelection in affluent Arizona congressional district
PHOENIX — Republican David Schweikert has won an eighth term in a wealthy Phoenix-area congressional district, fending off a challenge from a former Democratic state lawmaker.
Schweikert defeated Amish Shah, an emergency room doctor, on Sunday in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, which includes north Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley.
Although Republicans have a voter registration lead in the district, this began to trend toward the center after Donald Trump’s 2016 victory, as some voters who historically supported Republicans reluctantly voted for Democrats or left their ballots blank.
Redistricting ahead of the 2022 midterm elections accelerated the trend, fueling hopes among Democrats that Schweikert could be defeated and the district would flip. Schweikert is known for his fight against government debt.
The Associated Press left email messages for Schweikert and Shah’s campaigns on Sunday seeking comment.
Schweikert has raced in close races before. He won reelection in 2022 by just 3,200 votes against a relatively unknown Democrat who received minimal support from national Democrats.
Schweikert’s reputation has been tarnished by ethical scandals in recent years. In 2022 he received one $125,000 fine by the Federal Election Commission for embezzling campaign funds. Two years earlier, he agreed to pay a $50,000 fine and accept 11 campaign finance violations after an investigation by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics.
Shah, who emerged as the early winner from a field of six Democrats, had campaigned on lowering housing and health care prices.
Earlier Sunday, Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton is seeking re-election against Republican Kelly Cooper in the 4th District, which includes the cities of Tempe, Mesa and Chandler outside Phoenix. Stanton, a former mayor of Phoenix, has served in Congress since 2019.
In the 6th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani remained locked in a close race with Democrat Kirsten Engel, whom he narrowly defeated two years ago. The district runs from Tucson east to the New Mexico state line and includes a portion of the Arizona-Mexico border.
The U.S. Senate race between Republican Kari Lake, a well-known former television news anchor and close Trump ally, and Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, a veteran of the Iraq War, is also undecided.