Socialist surge shakes up Arizona Democratic primary
Daniel Alvarez, a senior adviser for the RNC, emphasized the increasing impact of Democratic Socialists in the Arizona primary. He’s particularly focused on the race for the House of Representatives where incumbent Greg Stanton is facing off against Kai Newkirk. Alvarez didn’t hold back, criticizing Newkirk’s agenda—specifically his push to abolish ICE. He described the swift membership growth of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) as a potential “disaster” for the Democrats and the country overall.
As of early Wednesday, two Democratic candidates were still contesting their party’s nomination to challenge former NFL kicker Jay Feely in the 1st Congressional District of Arizona. The front-runners, Marlene Galan Woods, a former TV news anchor, and ex-state Rep. Amish Shah, had not yet secured enough votes for a decisive win by that morning.
The primary victor will have a noteworthy chance to shift party representation in Arizona, which could importantly influence the balance of power in Washington, D.C. Feely secured the Republican primary victory late Tuesday after receiving “full and complete support” from former President Donald Trump in the campaign’s final stretch.
This seat could potentially be pivotal in deciding whether Republicans maintain their slim majority in the House or if Democrats manage to disrupt the Republican stronghold come November’s midterm elections.
The district has leaned Republican since 2020, yet incumbent Rep. David Schweikert (R-Ariz.) has faced tight races, narrowly defeating Shah in 2024 with a vote split of 51.9% to 48.1%. Schweikert announced his decision last year to run for governor instead of seeking re-election. Trump’s endorsed candidate, Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), decisively won the primary, coming in ahead by over 50 points as of early Wednesday.
“I’ve come to believe that Washington cannot be saved. I believe that Arizona can be saved,” Schweickert remarked in a recent conversation.
This isn’t the first encounter between Shah and Galan-Woods for their party’s nomination; they previously faced off in 2024 for the same district. Shah had edged out Galan Woods back then but ultimately lost to Schweikert, even with significant Democratic funding aimed at flipping the district.
Despite the past losses, Shah continues to position himself as a strong contender to challenge Feely in the general election. He is aiming for a nomination win for the second consecutive year. In contrast, Galan-Woods plans to leverage her lengthy background as a TV journalist in Arizona, highlighting her appeal to independents and suburban voters.
Galan-Woods is striving for another nomination, backed by several national Democratic organizations that view Arizona’s 1st Congressional District as a key target for the party in 2026. The ultimate winner of this primary will move forward to the general election on November 3rd.
