Democrat Rick McCartney, the founder of Phoenix-based advertising company InMedia, has become the fifth Democrat candidate to challenge incumbent Congressional District 1 Republican Rep. David Schweikert. McCartney, 58, joins fellow Democrats Amish Shah, Brian Del Vecchio, Marlene Galán-Woods, and Jonathan Treble in the upcoming Democratic primary to determine who will challenge the seven-term incumbent Republican budget hawk.
According to the Cook Political Report, Schweikert’s District is an R+1, classified in 2026 as a toss-up district despite the Republican’s 3.8 point victory in 2024 over Shah.
McCartney is an LGBTQ activist and has chaired the board of one-n-ten, “the largest organization supporting LGBTQ+ youth in Arizona,” according to his campaign website. In his bio he describes the campaign as “personal,” with his campaign stating, “As gay men, Rick and his husband stand in the crosshairs of Donald Trump’s assault on vulnerable communities.” He also chaired the Maricopa County Workforce Development Board, and is likely familiar to local Democrats.
My name is Rick McCartney. I’m a father, small business owner, and non-profit leader who's lived in Arizona's 1st Congressional District for 30 years.
Now, I'm the Democrat running for Congress to flip Arizona's 1st and fight for everyday people who’ve been ignored for too long. pic.twitter.com/nkaoQolUx7
— McCartney for Congress (@RickMcCartneyAZ) May 21, 2025
But this was where the specifics from McCartney’s campaign ended. The site, appearing to be an early build, is bereft of policy planks or campaign goals other than to “stand up to Trump and end his lawless assault on vulnerable communities,” or claiming to know “what Arizona workers and businesses need to succeed,” and touting “lower prices, a growing economy, and jobs with good benefits.”
Speaking with AZCentral McCartney said, “What we’re seeing with Donald Trump right now is just very destructive to a lot of the great things that we’ve been working on here in this district.” As noted by the outlet, he is in quite deep with the Democrat powerbrokers of the state, joining elected officials on international trips with Governor Katie Hobbs and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego according to his LinkedIn.
Reporter Laura Gersony noted that McCartney also boasts “relationships with well-connected political donors and philanthropists.”
Former state lawmaker Amish Shah, a Democrat, announced his intent to again challenge Congressman David Schweikert in 2026.
Shah failed to defeat Schweikert in last November’s general election, despite attempts to style himself as an independent to Maricopa County voters.
The former state lawmaker spread the news of his intent to run to The Arizona Republic. Shah said the voters must have regrets for electing Schweikert.
“I see a country that is in chaos,” said Shah. “I don’t think this is what people voted for.”
Shah indicated he may take a more openly progressive approach to his second run against Schweikert. Shah emphasized his defense of abortion access, specifically to the abortion drug mifepristone, and a desire for “actually getting stuff done for the people” rather than his view of Schweikert’s approach to office “just talking about stuff.”
“Instead of fighting for Arizonans, too many of our leaders are standing by and choosing to do nothing as we are confronted with some really serious challenges,” said Shah.
I’m running for Congress because Arizona deserves leadership that listens, shows up, and gets things done. Let’s bring integrity and real results back to Washington. Sign the petition to get me on the ballot → https://t.co/GV4iPvKaukpic.twitter.com/ewRJ76q04y
Shah also criticized Schweikert’s continued support for President Donald Trump’s economic policies. Schweikert, vice chair of the Joint Economic Committee and member of the Ways and Means Committee, has indicated some reservations about the president’s tariffs and the ongoing trade war.
“[W]e see uncertainty injected into the environment, where businesses are afraid to invest,” said Shah. “[Schweikert] should have been out there saying, full-throatedly, that for the people of CD1, this is going to cause them massive disruption. It’s going to cause economic harm.”
People "wanted a steady hand" on the economy, Shah said. "Instead, we see uncertainty injected into the environment, where businesses are afraid to invest."
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists named Shah “Legislator of the Year” for his successful defense of the abortion pill, mifepristone, during the 2022 legislative session.
That year, Shah also cosponsored a bill to expand anti-discrimination laws to cover gender identity and sexual orientation advanced by former House Speaker Rusty Bowers, a Republican. Shah also put forth bills to redefine marriage within the state constitution.
Prior to his run last year, Shah openly situated himself within the socialist camp of the Democratic Party.
Shah headlined a 2019 town hall for then-presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, organized by the Phoenix Democratic Socialists of America and Progressive Democrats of America, where he advocated for government-run universal healthcare.
The year before that, Shah proposed ending capitalism and, in its place, implementing socialist policies.
Schweikert defeated Shah with 52 percent of the vote: a lead of about 16,600 votes. That lead made theirs one of the narrowest federal races — second only to the contest between incumbent Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani and another repeat Democratic challenger, Kirsten Engel (in that race, Ciscomani led Engel by just over 10,800 votes).
Shah lost despite having outspent Schweikert by several million, per Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. Shah’s campaign spent over $6.2 million on his race, while Schweikert’s campaign spent over $4.2 million.
There are other Democrats vying to challenge Schweikert: Tammi Medlin, Marlene Galan-Woods, Brandon Donnelly, and Brian Del Vecchio.
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Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1 Amish Shah was revealed to have attacked former President Ronald Reagan and the entire system of capitalism in a recently uncovered video from 2018.
In the video footage, Shah is heard to say, “What we’ve got is an economic system here that isn’t fair. People have started to realize this finally after years. What happened with Ronald Reagan starting to cut taxes on the very, very wealthy has now given us the society we have, and this is what the real travesty is.”
In full, Shah offered a distinctly socialist rebuke of Reagan-era conservative reforms, tax cuts that objectively revived the U.S. economy after the disastrous Carter Administration.
“We’re institutionalizing inequality this… this is what we’re doing. Um, what… what we’ve got is an economic system here that isn’t fair,” Shah said.
He then began to outline a socialist solution:
“And, and, and this is what the real travesty is: lack of good healthcare for example. Um… an expensive healthcare strips people of assets. Not having affordable education then takes those people and puts them at, those kids, and puts them at a massive disadvantage. And there you go.
What you’re going to get is people without opportunity and then finding themselves in a place where they can’t make ends meet. And we’re funding a school to prison pipeline and …and that’s, that’s not right. That’s, that’s just morally, uh, objectionable way for a society to run.
And so I’m… I’m happy that what we’re seeing within the democratic party is a… a huge progressive movement that’s coming up and saying this is wrong and we’re going to do something about it.”
Shah’s views do not appear to have changed. In a recent debate featuring Shah, he explained his class warfare argument and even vowed to raise taxes on Arizonans. “I’m not in favor of extending the Trump tax cuts because a lot of the folks that were helped by those were wealthy,” said Shah.
NRCC Spokesperson Ben Petersen criticized Shah heavily in a statement, “Amish Shah’s extreme vow to axe the Trump tax cuts represents a declaration of war on Arizonans’ livelihoods. Shah’s class warfare campaign and support for socialism are disqualifying in the first district.”
As previously reported by the New York Post, Shah’s heavily radicalized socialist background has caused significant controversy in recent weeks as ties to Senator Bernie Sanders found him endorsing single-payer socialized medicine.
He recently ran afoul of the City of Tempe for use of mailers depicting a retired Tempe Police officer in full uniform in violation of A.R.S. 9-500.14, which forbids the use of city resources to influence an election.
And further reporting from the Washington Free Beacon also uncovered his rental of a modest condominium in his district and listing of that address for voter registration purposes, instead of his primary residence located in the neighboring third district, in possible violation of Arizona law.
Democratic Candidate for Congressional District 1 Amish Shah has found himself facing demands from the Tempe City Attorney.
According to the Arizona Agenda, Tempe City Attorney Eric Anderson contacted the Shah campaign and ordered the candidate to cease using a mailer that depicts a retired Tempe Police officer in full uniform including his sidearm. The advertisement shows Shah speaking with the officer and claiming he “stood up to his own party to crack down on fentanyl trafficking” or that he “voted to increase funding for border security,” forwarding a narrative that he is at least pro-law and order if not pro-law enforcement.
The ad naturally came to the attention of incumbent Republican Congressman David Schweikert who forwarded it to the city attorney. The mailer appears to be in violation of Arizona law A.R.S. 9-500.14, which forbids the use of city resources to influence an election, including: “monies, accounts, credit, facilities, vehicles, postage, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, web pages, personnel, equipment, materials, buildings or any other thing of value of the city or town.” In this case, the city’s logo represents a “thing of value.” Anderson also confirmed to the outlet that city policy also forbids the practice.
“Accordingly, my office has directed correspondence to both the former officer as well as Dr. Shah’s campaign demanding that any such use be discontinued,” he wrote, adding that if the Schweikert campaign sees him use it again, they should tell the city “so further action can be considered.”
It’s not uncommon for politicians to pose with police. 🚔📸
But the cops aren’t usually dressed in uniform, complete with gun. 🔫👮♂️
As of this report, the advertisements haven’t stopped. Schweikert campaign consultant Chris Baker told the Arizona Agenda that one more mailer hit homes just a day after the letter from the city attorney, which could have already been in process. But a few days later, another was deployed, leading the campaign to alert the city.
Responding to the allegations, Shah told the outlet that he passed the city’s letter on to his attorney and if his campaign had indeed violated the law, he would update the ad. He did note though that his team had contracted with a major national firm for the mailers and were told by both the company and the retired officer that use of the photo was “kosher.”
Shah told the outlet, “We’re checking with our team and our lawyers to see if what they allege to be a violation, was indeed a violation. And if we are found to be out of compliance, then we will take corrective action, meaning, blur it out.”
National Republican Congressional Committee Spokesperson Ben Petersen reacted in a statement saying, “Lawbreaking liberal Amish Shah thinks he’s above the rules and will do anything for power. Shah shamelessly doubling down on his illegal behavior despite being warned shows his contempt for the rule of law.”
In a post to X, Petersen even noted, “Let’s not forget Shah clearly forgot Tempe is not even in #AZ01.”
According to the law, “For each violation of this section, the court may impose a civil penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars plus any amount of misused funds subtracted from the city or town budget against a person who knowingly violates or aids another person in violating this section.”
A poll of voters conducted late last month revealed that the Democratic primary for Arizona’s District One congressional race remains highly competitive.
Leading candidates Andrei Cherny and Amish Shah reflected 16 percent support, with Marlene Galan-Woods trailing slightly at 14 percent, then Connor O’Callaghan at 11 percent.
Those numbers were low because a majority remained undecided on their preferred candidate.
The poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights (NPI), found that 35 percent of the over 400 Democratic voters didn’t know if they were going to support Cherny, Shah, Galan-Woods, or O’Callaghan.
NPI Chief of Research David Byler opined in a press release with the poll results that the lack of voter enthusiasm for any one candidate was due to the race being “a mess” and none of the Democratic primary candidates being well known.
“On the Democratic side of the aisle, there’s no single issue that focuses and divides up primaries,” said Byler. “Many Democrats haven’t tuned in, and those who have are split and unsure.”
Certain candidates turned out higher likeability scores among undecided Democratic voters. Cherny had a net favorability rating of 43 points, followed by Galan-Woods at 41 points and then Shah at 34 points.
Cherny was endorsed by former President Bill Clinton; congressmen Adam Smith (Washington), Brad Schneider (Illinois), Mike Levin (California), Seth Moulton (Massachusetts), and Wiley Nickel (North Carolina), Senate Democratic leader Mitzi Epstein; former State Representatives Debbie McCune Davis and Kelli Butler; mayors Ginny Dickey (Fountain Hills), Kate Gallego (Phoenix), Jerry Bien-Wilner (Paradise Valley); former Congressman Harry Mitchell; Central Arizona Project and Arizona’s List board member Heather Macre; Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo; former Vice Mayor of Tempe Lauren Kuby; former Attorney General Terry Goddard; AFSCME; Brady PAC; Foreign Policy for America; League of Conservation Voters; Moms Demand Action; New Politics; Serve America; Taking the Hill PAC; and VoteVets.
Shah’s endorsements are mainly Democratic lawmakers: House Minority Leader Andrés Cano, House Minority Leader Lupe Contreras; House Assistant Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos; House Whip Nancy Gutierrez; and Representatives Analise Ortiz, Stacy Travers, Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton, Cesar Aguilar, Christopher Mathis, Keith Seaman, Patty Contreras, Myron Tsosie, Seth Blattman, Mae Peshlakai, Deborah Nardozzi, Charles Lucking, and Senators Eva Burch and Flavio Bravo. His other endorsements include Councilman Kevin Robinson, former Representative Lorenzo Sierra, César Chávez, and Aaron Lieberman; and former senators Robert Miza and Sean Bowie.
Galan-Woods has a diverse array of endorsements among Democratic leaders. Among them are Congressman Raúl Grijalva; attorney general Kris Mayes; State Representative Laura Terech; former Arizona Governor and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, former Senator Dennis DeConcini; former Congressman Ron Barber and Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick; former State Representative Marcelino Quiñonez; former Mayor of Tempe, Neil Giuliano; former Arizona Democratic Party Chair Felecia Rotellini; and 2014 Democratic nominee for Arizona governor and Deputy Chief of Protocol for former President Bill Clinton, Fred Duval.
Galan-Woods’ list of endorsements from organizations also has diversity: Emily’s List, Bold Democrats, Elect Democratic Women, Moms Fed Up, Latino Victory Fund, Moms Demand Action, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 104, Ironworkers Local 75, American Federation of Government Employees, United Food and Commercial Workers, National Education Association, Arizona Education Association, Professional Firefighters of Arizona, International Association of Fire Fighters, Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, and Communications Workers of America.
O’Callaghan’s endorsements generally cover a more national scope, with some more local Arizona endorsements. Those Arizona endorsements include State Representative Mariana Sandoval; elected Central Arizona Water Conservation District board members Ylenia Aguilar and Ben Graff; pro-tem Justice of the Peace in Maricopa County Ayensa Millan; Scottsdale Unified School District board member Julie Cieniawski; Phoenix Elementary Governing Board member Regional Carrillo; Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board member Kerry Baker; former Scottsdale Education Association President Eric Kurland; former Nogales Mayor Marco Lopez; former Maricopa County Democratic Party Chair Steven Slugocki; activists Tony Moya, Shea Najafi, and Mark Ashley; former Turning Arizona Blue host Ron Williams; former congressional candidate Bernadette Greene-Placentia.
O’Callaghan’s endorsements outside Arizona list among them several A-list celebrities: Kate Walsh, Lesley-Ann Brandt, Laura Benanti, Beth Dover, and Cissy Jones. Other endorsements were Congressmen Dan Goldman (New York), Brendan Boyle (Pennsylvania), Val Hoyle (Oregon); former New York Congressman Max Rose; political scientist and author Rachel Bitecofer; former senior advisor to former President Bill Clinton, Justin Cooper; Obama 2012 State Director Miguel Medrano; former Bernie Sanders Deputy Director Roy Tatem Jr.; TNT reporter and host Allie LaForce.
O’Callaghan also had a number of organization recognitions: BlueAmerica, Common Defense, Patriotic Millionaires, Stonewall Democrats of Arizona, Penjamo Yaqui Pueblo, Power PAC Plus, Down with Tyranny, Vote Common Good, American Promise, and Moms Demand Action.
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