Former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely won the Republican primary for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District on Tuesday night, putting him in position to compete for one of the most closely watched House seats in the state.
The district includes parts of Phoenix and Scottsdale and is expected to be competitive in the November general election.
Feely entered the race with the endorsement of President Donald Trump. He defeated former Arizona state Sen. Joseph Chaplik and technology and telecommunications executive John Trobough.
By Wednesday morning, Feely had received about 49.7 percent of the vote. With more than 85 percent of ballots counted, he held a lead of roughly 11,000 votes over Chaplik.
During a victory speech early Wednesday, Feely said he decided to run for Congress because he wanted to help create a better future for younger generations.
He also focused much of his speech on the political divide between Republicans and Democrats, arguing that the two parties have moved further apart ideologically. Feely accused Democrats of shifting too far to the left and supporting ideas that he believes would fundamentally change the country.
He specifically criticized proposals associated with border enforcement, policing and the structure of the federal government. Feely told supporters that Republicans would oppose those changes and defend the institutions and principles that have shaped the United States throughout its history.
The Democratic primary remained more competitive. Former state Rep. Amish Shah, a physician, was leading with approximately 40.5 percent of the vote. Marlene Galán-Woods, a former television journalist, followed with about 33.6 percent.
Republican nominee in #AZ01 @JayFeely in victory speech: “Why did I decide to run for office? It is a desire to leave this country better for our children & our grandchildren.”
“The Democrat Party has embraced Democrat Socialism. They have chosen to move further to the left.”… pic.twitter.com/P8fGvfugvg
— Ben Petersen (@bennpetersen) July 22, 2026
Democrats see the district as a possible pickup opportunity in November. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. David Schweikert, who decided not to seek another term in Congress and instead ran for governor of Arizona.
Schweikert’s gubernatorial campaign ended in defeat. Rep. Andy Biggs won the Republican primary for governor with about 73.4 percent of the vote, while Schweikert received roughly 14.7 percent as of Wednesday morning.
Republicans currently control six of Arizona’s nine seats in the U.S. House. The state’s two U.S. senators, Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, are Democrats.
Before entering politics, Feely spent more than a decade in the NFL. He played for several teams during his career, including the Arizona Cardinals from 2010 through 2014.
One of his most notable performances came during the 2010 season, when he became the first kicker in NFL history to score 25 points in a single game. Feely made five field goals, including one from 55 yards, converted four extra points and scored a rushing touchdown on a fake field goal.
The race for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District is expected to receive national attention because control of the House remains closely divided. The Cook Political Report has identified the district as one of 18 House races nationwide considered toss-ups. Arizona’s 6th Congressional District is also included on that list.
Republicans currently hold a narrow advantage in the House, making competitive districts like Arizona’s 1st especially important to both parties as they fight for control of Congress in November.
