Democratic congressional candidate Amish Shah faces Republican criticism over campaign payments to a field organizer whose past social media posts praised Bernie Sanders, supported progressive policies, and featured a photograph from a protest where demonstrators carried “Defund the Police” signs.
Federal Election Commission records show Shah’s principal campaign committee, Amish for Arizona, reported payments to Tylon Blas during the 2025–2026 election cycle. Blas’ public LinkedIn profile identifies him as a field organizer for Amish for Arizona.
The scrutiny centers on social media posts Blas published during the 2020 presidential election.
In a July 9, 2020, post, Blas reflected on making his first political contribution five years earlier, describing it as “the first time I felt real hope.” The post included hashtags supporting Sen. Bernie Sanders and Medicare for All.
Days later, Blas wrote that he had voted for Sanders and was disappointed by his loss in the Democratic presidential primary. Explaining his subsequent decision to support Joe Biden, Blas cited concerns about climate change and his children’s future, writing, “I’m just a desperate dad with no other options and no time.”
In another July 2020 post, Blas shared a Trump War Room message describing Biden as a “Trojan Horse” for the political agenda of Sanders and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Ilhan Omar.
“One conspiracy that I wish was true,” Blas wrote.
Blas also posted a photograph he took at a June 2020 march where demonstrators could be seen carrying “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund the Police” signs.
“My favorite photo that I took at the march,” Blas wrote, adding Black Lives Matter hashtags.
The posts have resurfaced amid an ongoing dispute over Shah’s political positioning in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District.
As the Arizona Daily Independent previously reported, Shah appeared at an Arizona for Bernie town hall in Phoenix in April 2019. The event’s coalition included Phoenix Democratic Socialists and other progressive organizations.
During the event, Shah criticized aspects of the free-market health care system and advocated a nationwide single-payer system, which is a platform supported by the DSA.
“We need universal, single-payer Medicare for All throughout this country,” Shah said.
Democrats have rejected Republican efforts to characterize Shah as a socialist. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently disputed that characterization, citing reporting that Shah has never been a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and describing his record in the Arizona Legislature as more moderate and bipartisan.
Shah’s campaign website claims he has a record of working across party lines in the Legislature.
Republicans, however, argue that Shah’s past policy positions and political associations conflict with the moderate image his campaign is presenting to voters.
RNC spokesman Nick Poche criticized Shah’s record and political positioning.
“Amish Shah can say whatever he wants, but the facts don’t lie — he’s all-in with the radical left and would be a disaster for Arizona. Shah can’t run from his lunatic far-left record that gives criminals a pass and puts Arizonans on the hook for free transgender surgeries for illegal immigrants,” Poche said.
The social media posts at issue were published in 2020, years before the campaign payments now drawing attention.
The controversy also comes as Republicans criticize Shah for participating in candidate forums.
AZ Free News reported that Shah declined an Aug. 26 Arizona PBS appearance and did not respond to an invitation to AMAC Action’s Sept. 22 candidate forum, according to the respective hosts. Republican nominee Jay Feely criticized Shah’s absence in a Sept. 22 post on X.
“Arizonans deserve to hear from the candidates running to represent them. I’m disappointed that my opponent continues to hide from the public. But when you align yourself with Democratic Socialists, dodging questions is easier than answering for your policies,” Feely wrote.
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