Former NFL kicker Jay Feely won the Republican primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District on Tuesday, giving the GOP a Trump-backed nominee in a competitive open-seat race that will help determine which party controls the House. Feely, who received President Donald Trump's endorsement in the final stretch of the race, defeated former state lawmaker Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough in the GOP contest to replace Rep. David Schweikert, who is running for governor but lost his own primary Tuesday night.
Arizona's 1st Congressional District is a Phoenix-area battleground that both parties see as competitive heading into November. The district includes northeastern Maricopa County and large parts of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills, according to Arizona PBS' candidate forum. The seat has remained competitive in recent cycles, and the open race presents a key opportunity for both parties as they vie for control of the House.
Trump endorsed Feely in a video message days before the primary, calling him atrue America First conservative
and urging voters to support him in the July 21 election. The National Republican Congressional Committee also placed Feely in itsMAGA Majority
program, which the committee says is aimed at supporting America First candidates in battleground districts. The endorsement and committee support underscored the national significance of the race, as Republicans seek to hold Schweikert's seat and Democrats look to flip it.
The GOP primary became increasingly personal in its final weeks when Chaplik accused Feely on social media of havingimported Haitians,
a remark Feely described as racist and directed at Haitian men he considers family, according to Axios Phoenix. Feely, who has spent years doing nonprofit relief work in Haiti after a devastating 2010 earthquake there, has defended his work as humanitarian, not political. He told Axios Phoenix that he helped two young Haitian men — a translator he worked with and the translator's brother — come to the U.S., and that he considers them members of his family. He has also tried to assist several of their relatives in relocating.
Chaplik shot back on social media, saying the tweet hadnothing to do with your two family members and everything to do with your history of bringing large numbers of Haitian migrants to NGOs in an attempt to get amnesty here.
He also accused Feely of opposing Trump on Temporary Protected Status for Haiti. The exchange highlighted the tensions within the Republican primary, as candidates vied to position themselves as the most conservative choice.
Feely will now advance to a general election in one of the most closely watched House races in the country. The Democratic candidates for Arizona's 1st Congressional District include former state lawmaker Amish Shah and former television news anchor Marlene Galán-Woods, the two leading Democrats in the race, along with Rick McCartney and Jonathan Treble. Shah fended off a challenge in the Democratic primary, setting up a high-stakes general election contest.
The race is expected to draw significant national attention and spending, as both parties see the district as a potential pickup. Republicans are working to hold the seat after Schweikert's departure, while Democrats see an opportunity to flip a district that has remained competitive in recent cycles. The outcome could play a crucial role in determining which party controls the House after the November elections.
Feely's background as a former NFL kicker and his humanitarian work in Haiti have made him a distinctive candidate in the race. He played 14 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Atlanta Falcons and New York Giants, and has been active in charitable efforts since retiring. His campaign has focused on conservative principles, border security, and economic issues, aligning with Trump's America First agenda.
The primary results came amid a broader set of elections in Arizona, including the governor's race and other congressional contests. Schweikert's loss in the gubernatorial primary added to the political upheaval in the state, as Republicans and Democrats alike jockey for position ahead of the general election.
