House Democrats have a new problem—and this time, they cannot blame Republicans.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into yet another congressional primary, handpicked its preferred candidate, and still came away empty-handed. The embarrassing defeat has fueled growing frustration inside the Democratic caucus, where lawmakers are now demanding answers about how party leaders keep spending members' money only to lose.
In Arizona's 1st Congressional District, former state Rep. Amish Shah defeated Marlene Galán-Woods in the Democratic primary, winning 39.8% of the vote to her 34.1%. While the results remain unofficial until certification, all precincts have reported, leaving little doubt about the outcome.
For the DCCC, it marks its third failed attempt this election cycle to steer Democratic voters toward the establishment's preferred candidate.
The committee endorsed Galán-Woods through its "Red to Blue" program in June and partnered with her campaign on a $514,000 advertising blitz. Outside Democratic groups piled on, spending more than $1.5 million attacking Shah while pouring another $1 million into television, digital, and mail campaigns supporting Galán-Woods.
It wasn't enough.
Instead of shaping the race, the DCCC found itself on the losing side after spending heavily to influence Democratic voters—raising an uncomfortable question for rank-and-file House Democrats who bankroll the committee every election cycle.
Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) was among those publicly expressing frustration. Ramirez, who said she contributed $100,000 in DCCC dues, pointed to roughly $800,000 the committee spent on unsuccessful interventions in Arizona, California, and Maine.
For a party that routinely lectures about protecting democracy and respecting voters, the repeated effort to tip the scales in its own primaries is becoming increasingly difficult to explain. Even more awkward is the fact that Democratic voters keep rejecting the candidates party leadership tries to elevate.
Republicans were quick to capitalize on the latest setback.
The National Republican Congressional Committee described Shah's victory as the DCCC's "latest humiliation" and estimated Democrats spent nearly $4.5 million trying to stop him—a figure provided by the NRCC that underscores just how expensive the intraparty battle became.
Now Shah advances to the general election, where he will face Republican nominee Jay Feely, the former NFL kicker endorsed by President Donald Trump. The race will unfold in a district Trump carried by three points in 2024, making it one of the GOP's most promising pickup opportunities.
Shah has already taken a playful jab at Democratic leadership, joking that he hopes the DCCC will endorse him against Feely. The humor lands because the irony is impossible to miss. After spending months—and millions of dollars—trying to defeat him, Democratic leaders must now convince frustrated donors and House members to finance his campaign.
Sometimes political karma arrives faster than expected. The DCCC tried to choose Democratic voters' nominee, failed for the third time this cycle, and now faces an internal rebellion over wasted resources. Meanwhile, Republicans head into the general election with a Trump-backed candidate, a favorable political map, and a Democratic Party that seems increasingly consumed by fighting itself instead of persuading the voters it hopes to win back.
