Former Cardinals kicker Jay Feely won the Republican nomination in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, according to a race call by the Associated Press, while early results show Amish Shah leads a four-way Democratic primary with 42% of the vote.
CD1 encompasses Scottsdale, north Phoenix and Cave Creek. It’s one of the most competitive races in the country and could be key to determining control of Congress.
No matter who wins in November, a new face is sure to represent CD1 going forward — the district’s current representative, Republican David Schweikert, mounted a campaign for governor rather than seek reelection.
Schweikert held the seat for 15 years, but Democrats have come closer and closer to flipping the seat blue in recent elections. In 2024, CD1 residents voted for Schweikert and President Trump, but also favored Democrat Ruben Gallego in the race for U.S. Senate.
On the Republican side, Feely took an early lead with 49% of the vote as of Tuesday night. He beat fellow Republicans Joseph Chaplik and John Trobough.
Feely was endorsed by Trump, who’s been his friend for several years. Feely said the president and other GOP leaders reached out and asked him to run.
The Trump endorsement boosted Feely's campaign in the primary but could hurt it in the general election as the president's approval ratings continue to dip and non-GOP voters make up about 62% of the district.
But Feely said he doesn't need to shy away from Trump to win.
"I am who I am. I'm not going to shy away from the things that I believe in," he said at an election night watch party. "I'm going to continue to talk about the things that I believe in. I think more than anything, voters want authenticity."
But, a few moments later, he said he would be willing to buck the president if he felt White House policy was not in the best interest of CD1 residents.
"I think your job is to stand up for what you believe is going to be best for your district," Feely said. "And I'm not somebody who is a partisan guy ... I look at the vitriol that exists, and I look at the way that this country, unfortunately, if you're on one side or the other, you're supposed to hate that other side. I don't believe that."
On the Democratic side, Shah is a former state legislator and an ER doctor. He won the Democratic primary in CD1 in 2024, only to fall short of ousting Schweikert in the general election. Shah is known for his aggressive boots on the ground door knocking campaign, and said he’s personally knocked on more than 27,000 doors in the district.
Marlene Galán-Woods also sought the Democratic nomination in 2024, when she came in third. She is a former Republican and broadcaster, and is the widow of former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods, a Republican.
This year, Galán-Woods garnered support in the race to best Shah from key allies, including a controversial endorsement from the Democratic National Campaign Committee — an organization that seldom chooses sides in primary elections.
Galán-Woods also boasts endorsements from top Democrats in Arizona, like Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Attorney General Kris Mayes and U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly.
Both Shah and Galán-Woods pitched themselves as down to earth candidates who will work across the aisle.
First time candidates Rick McCartney and Jonathan Treble are also running. They’re both businessmen who call CD1 home.
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Find everything you need to know about elections in Arizona and Maricopa County from KJZZ's politics team. -
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