Who is Dr Tina Shah? Indian-American enters New Jersey Democratic primary race; raises over $1m

Indian American physician Dr Tina Shah has entered the race for the Democratic nomination in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, becoming the only Indian American among several Democrats seeking the party ticket.

“I am so proud of the support our campaign has earned,” Shah said in a statement quoted by New Jersey Globe. “New Jerseyans want leaders who put patients over industry profits. Our campaign is about serving working families, not special interests,” she said.




If elected, Shah would be the first Indian American to represent New Jersey in the US Congress. Indian Americans currently hold only a few seats in the House of Representatives, a number that does not reflect the size of the community. New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District, which includes several suburban areas with a large Indian American population, is expected to be a closely watched race with national implications for control of Congress.

Shah has taken aim at the incumbent Republican lawmaker, Tom Kean Jr, calling him a career politician who is out of touch with people in the district.

She has also been openly critical of President Donald Trump’s approach to healthcare. Her campaign is also shaped by her background as a second-generation Indian American. She has spoken about her parents coming to North America in search of opportunity and a better life.

Her campaign has reported strong early fundraising. In a statement on Tuesday, her team said Shah had raised $1,017,000, crossing the $1 million mark. The campaign said its focus is on lowering costs for families, protecting reproductive rights and expanding access to healthcare.

Who is Tina Shah

Dr. Tina Shah is a triple board-certified doctor in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care. Alongside her clinical work, she has held senior policy roles under three US administrations.

As a senior adviser to the US surgeon general, she helped shape the federal government’s first plan to address clinician burnout. At the department of veterans affairs, she served as the agency’s first national director of clinician wellbeing, where her work focused on improving electronic medical records and expanding access to primary care for veterans.

She later moved to the private sector and became the first chief clinical officer of a healthcare-focused artificial intelligence company. There, she worked on cutting administrative work so doctors and nurses could spend more time with patients.