President Donald Trump endorsed former Cardinals kicker Jay Feely for Congress on Tuesday, making him the second candidate Trump is supporting in the race.
Trump had previously endorsed Arizona GOP Chair Gina Swoboda.
“President Trump endorsed my campaign for Congress because he knows I will fight tirelessly in DC to put America First,” Feely responded in a social media post. “I am committed to defending the American Dream and preserving the Republican majority by WINNING this crucial seat.”
Feely was initially running for Congress in a different district — CD5 — but jumped into the CD1 race last month after former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb joined the CD5 race with Trump’s endorsement.
CD1 is a north Valley district that encompasses parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Cave Creek. It’s currently represented by Republican David Schweikert — who is leaving Congress to run for governor.
In a social media post on Tuesday, Trump wrote that both Feely and Swoboda are “highly respected America First Patriots.”
“I am honored to give both Jay Feely and Gina Swoboda my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Representative of Arizona’s 1st Congressional District – JAY OR GINA WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” Trump wrote.
It’s not the first time the president has double-endorsed in Arizona.
He is also supporting both Congressman Andy Biggs and former lobbyist Karrin Taylor Robson for governor.
Swoboda’s consultant Chris Baker said the double endorsement won’t matter to her campaign.
Baker acknowledged the Trump endorsement is powerful, but cited Swoboda’s track record of getting elected as chair twice, also with Trump’s support.
He also noted that Feely doesn’t live in the district, and anticipates voters won’t like that.
“We wish Gilbert resident Jay Feely well in this campaign, but from our perspective nothing has changed. We are extremely confident in Gina Swoboda being the Republican nominee in Arizona 1,” Baker said.
There’s a third prominent candidate in the race: state Rep. Joseph Chaplik (R-Scottsdale). He announced his candidacy in December, before Feely.
Chaplik is a member of the state Legislature’s Freedom Caucus, chaired by Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek). Hoffman and other like-minded members are staunch opponents of Swoboda, both as GOP chair and as a congressional candidate.
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