Key facts
- Voters in Arizona's first congressional district are divided on Donald Trump's influence.
- Democrat Amish Shah is challenging Republican Jay Feely for the open House seat.
- The district includes north Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, with a median income of $102,000.
- Trump's endorsement of Feely is a point of contention for some voters.
- Independents are the second-largest voting bloc in the district.
Voters in Arizona's affluent first congressional district are grappling with the influence of Donald Trump as the November midterm elections approach. The district, a key battleground encompassing north Scottsdale and Paradise Valley, could play a crucial role in determining control of the House of Representatives.
Democrat Amish Shah, an emergency room doctor who narrowly lost the seat in 2024, faces Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker endorsed by Trump. While the district has historically leaned conservative, recent election results show a shift, with Democrats winning statewide offices and Joe Biden narrowly carrying the district in 2020. Trump's margin of victory in the district was smaller than his statewide win in 2024.
Some voters, like lifelong Republican Tom Wolfe, view Trump's endorsement as detrimental, while others, such as retired accountant David McGahan, approve of the country's direction under Trump. Political strategists note that the district's voters, often described as 'McCain-type voters,' are educated and engaged but may not align with Trump's MAGA movement. The Cook Political Report has shifted its rating of the Feely-Shah race to 'leans Democrat.'