Key facts
- Jay Feely won the Republican primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District.
- Feely was endorsed by President Donald Trump.
- The 1st District is a competitive battleground and a top target for House Democrats.
- Republicans have held the seat since 2011.
- Feely's campaign received significant donations from sports figures.
Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker and close ally of President Donald Trump, has won the Republican primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District. Feely leveraged Trump's endorsement to defeat former state Rep. Joseph Chaplik and secure the nomination.
The 1st District, which encompasses the affluent northern suburbs of Phoenix, is considered a highly competitive battleground and a top target for House Democrats. Trump won the district by a narrow margin of three points in 2024. Republicans have held the seat since 2011, but the departure of Rep. David Schweikert, who is running for Arizona governor, has left it open.
Feely stated that his primary focus after leaving his NFL broadcasting career was to maintain the Republican majority in the House. His campaign has attracted significant financial support from notable figures in the sports world, including NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, NBA legend Charles Barkley, CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz, New York Giants head coach John Harbaugh, and the Haslam and Bidwill families, who own the Cleveland Browns and Arizona Cardinals, respectively.