Kansas congresswoman endorses Shah for NJ-7

Tina Shah, one of several Democrats competing for New Jersey’s Republican-held 7th congressional district, picked up an endorsement today far afield from New Jersey: Kansas Congresswoman Sharice Davids.

“Tina has spent her career showing up for people – whether it’s at the bedside as a physician or advocating for smarter healthcare policy,” Davids said in a statement. “She knows how to take on tough challenges, bring people together, and get things done. I know she’ll be a strong voice in Congress for working families – just like she’s always been.”

Shah, a physician who worked in both the Obama and Biden administrations, launched her campaign for the 7th congressional district earlier this month. She’s one of at least five serious Democratic candidates looking to take on Rep. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) in what could become one of the nation’s most competitive 2026 House races.

Davids is no stranger to intense elections, either; the congresswoman, who represents a suburban Kansas City district, unseated a Republican incumbent in 2018 after winning a hotly contested Democratic primary.

The pair met when they were both White House fellows in the Obama administration, Shah at the Department of Veterans Affairs and Davids at the Department of Transportation. Davids is the first member of Congress, from any state, to weigh in on the 7th district contest so far.