Congressional nominee Amish Shah’s claim that he “worked to Back the Blue” is being challenged.
Shah made his claim after two Arizona law enforcement associations (unions), the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Arizona (CLEAA) and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Law Enforcement Association (DLEA), endorsed Shah over Republican Jay Feely in the upcoming general election for Arizona’s First Congressional District.
The union’s endorsements were surprising given Shah’s history, say critics.
Shah promoted ending qualified immunity for police officers, voted against protecting cops from false complaints, and proudly accepted endorsements from groups that bankrolled efforts to defund and abolish police departments.
In June 2020, as a State Rep., Shah posted Arizona House Democrats’ plan ending qualified immunity, allowing officers “to be sued” for so-called negligence.
Shah posted a black square with “#BlackOutTuesday” on social media as part of a Black Lives Matter protest against police.
Shah also voted against legislation protecting officers from false complaints even though many complaints are unfounded and voted against ensuring police officers had adequate representation on police review boards.
Shah touted endorsements from MoveOn and Reproductive Freedom for All; both groups actively worked to defund police and contributed millions to bail funds during 2020 riots. Shah even bankrolled his campaign through these groups.
“When the radical Left mob came for Arizona’s police officers, socialist Amish Shah egged them on and crawled into bed with defund the police groups,” NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said in a statement provided to the Arizona Daily Independent. “Valley families worried about keeping their communities safe cannot trust Socialist Shah.”
Shah and Feely are competing for Arizona’s open 1st Congressional District seat in the Nov. 3 general election. Shah won the Democratic primary in July, while Feely, a former NFL kicker backed by President Donald Trump, secured the Republican nomination.
“In the Arizona State House, Amish Shah worked to keep our communities safe, support law enforcement officers, and to stop the flow of fentanyl into our communities,” CLEAA Chairman Jason Winskey said when announcing the organization’s endorsement. “We know he’ll continue to do the same in Congress.”
“Amish Shah worked with us to make sure law enforcement officers got the resources and support they need to keep Arizonans safe,” DLEA President Chris Clark told Axios.
Clark said the endorsement was based on the association’s working relationship with Shah and did not reflect concerns about Feely.
Clark said the endorsement was based on the association’s working relationship with Shah and did not reflect concerns about Feely.
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