Trump-endorsed Jay Feely won the Republican primary in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, according to AP and NBC projections, with nearly 69% of ballots counted. Feely will run for the seat vacated by David Schweikert, who is pursuing the governorship. He shifted from a 5th District bid after a Trump endorsement reshaped that race and now faces a likely November contest against either Amish Shah or Marlene Galán-Woods. FEC filings show contributions from several high-profile sports and media figures, and Feely’s NFL career ran from 2001 to 2014.
Trump-Backed Jay Feely Wins Arizona GOP Primary, Setting Up Tight Fall Contest
Former Cardinals kicker Jay Feely participates in the 2026 AZ Clean Elections primary debate for the 1st Congressional District at Sneaky Big Studios in Scottsdale on June 24, 2026.
Former NFL kicker Jay Feely, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, has won the Republican primary in Arizona’s competitive 1st Congressional District, projections from The Associated Press and NBC News show.
With nearly 69% of ballots counted, Feely decisively outpaced former state representative Joe Chaplik and businessman John Trobough. He is running to replace Republican Congressman David Schweikert, who is vacating the seat to run for governor. The district covers affluent, metro-Phoenix suburbs and is expected to be a competitive battleground in November.
Feely originally launched a campaign in Arizona’s 5th District but shifted to the 1st District after Trump endorsed former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in the 5th, making Lamb the early front-runner there.
The likely general-election matchup will depend on the outcome of the Democratic primary between former state lawmaker Amish Shah and Marlene Galán-Woods, a former television news anchor who has received backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC). Shah narrowly beat Galán-Woods in the 2024 Democratic primary by roughly 1,700 votes and went on to lose to Schweikert in the general election; he is considered a potential contender again this cycle.
"When I chose to walk away from my NFL broadcasting career, keeping the Republican majority was the primary focus," Feely wrote on the social platform X. "We must maintain a GOP majority to ensure lower costs for Arizona's families, safety in our neighborhoods, and the preservation of the American Dream."
Federal Election Commission filings show Feely’s campaign accepted donations of thousands of dollars from several high-profile sports and media figures, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley, CBS sportscaster Jim Nantz and New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh.
Feely’s NFL career spanned from 2001 to 2014. During that time he played for the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals and Chicago Bears.
Contributing: Tom Viera
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY.
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