After 5 years serving in the Arizona State House, I am running for U.S. Congress
A Democrat Who Wins
Dr. Shah has resoundingly won 3 straight elections by knocking on thousands of doors and listening to voters.
The last 6 Democratic challengers for this Congressional seat had never held public office. They were all unsuccessful.
Dr. Shah is the ONLY DEMOCRAT IN THIS RACE TO HAVE:
Won an election in Arizona
Spent the last 7 years dedicated to public service in Arizona
Knocked on 18,000+ doors personally
Passed more bills than any Arizona Democrat in a decade
Received over a dozen awards for quality of service
Earned 22 endorsements from Arizona elected officials
Honed legislative experience & policy expertise
MY STORY
Saving lives in the E.R. for 20 years
Growing up in Chicago, I had a pretty rough childhood. I was bullied, and there were times I would go to my room and pray that God would just take my life, because there seemed to be no safe place for me. But somewhere around 6th grade, the unexpected happened. Two teachers, Mrs. Weber and Ms. Meres, took an interest in me, not just as a good student, but as a good person. They saw I needed support, and gave me kindness, generosity and encouragement.
Eventually, I paid my own way through medical school, allowing me to build an independent and fulfilling career as an ER doctor. I became a faculty member, educator, researcher, and even worked with the NFL. You see, this story would be unlikely in other places. But I was born in America, and the American people cared for me and invested in me.
I know how our kids need our full support and encouragement to reach their potential, especially here in Arizona where we have an underfunded and broken system. So I will strive to ensure every kid gets a real shot like I did. I will demand that teachers get paid well and treated with respect. And I will push for quality, affordable healthcare for everyone so you don't have to choose between your medicine and your rent. Join us, and let's get it done.
education
Every kid deserves
a real chance.
Arizona ranks near last in the country in teacher pay. We rank very low in spending per child. As a solution, the legislature passed a teacher raise recently, but the plan is neither permanent nor adequate. The raises are dependent on future revenue, which is not guaranteed. The plan also does nothing about the poor pay for non-teachers and the massive shortfall in capital funding, which pays for school books, chalk and buildings. A real solution would involve raising the appropriate revenue.
Kids cannot vote. They depend upon an education system to give them the tools they need to succeed. Without proper education, we cannot maintain a thriving democracy nor a robust economy. This is a moral outrage.
I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for my teachers. I had a rough childhood, but two teachers in particular showed me generosity and kindness and with that encouragement, I was able to fulfill my dream of becoming a doctor. I now serve the public and save lives. As a former medical school faculty member, I stand proudly with Arizona’s educators and will demand that we fund the entire system to give every kid a great shot.
healthcare
I stand for Universal Health Care, including Reproductive Rights. I'm 100% pro-choice.
A little while ago I saw a man in the ER in his 40s. He rebuilt cars for a living. A few weeks before I saw him, his leg had been severed in an ATV accident after a strut failed, and it was no fault of his own. He had it re-attached, but needed follow-up care and could not get it. Since his deductible was so high, he could not afford the office visits for his surgeon. He came to me with a severe infection. So now he has a real chance of losing a limb. I wish his story were unique.
I am a physician who works all over Arizona in our Emergency Departments. Every day, I take care of people without any regard for their ability to pay. Many are in the ER because they have nowhere else to go, but the ER cannot provide comprehensive care. People need specialists and office visits too. They shouldn't lose everything they have worked hard for because they are sick.
So stand with me. I stand for ALL AMERICANS to have comprehensive and high-quality healthcare with ease of access.
democracy
I stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the people of Arizona.
We Arizona voters have the ability to enact laws by putting important issues directly on the ballot. In 2016, voters approved Proposition 206, which increased the minimum wage and gave many Arizonans a much-needed raise.
In response to Proposition 206, legislators in 2017 introduced and passed several bills that made it more difficult for the people to enact laws.
Since that time, we have seen dozens of bills which create obstacles to voting.
I stand firmly against every last one of these measures, as well as the “dark money” bills. I believe in a transparent democracy where the people hold power.
