Former NFL player Jay Feely won the Republican primary on July 21, 2026, for Arizona's 1st Congressional District, becoming his party's nominee for the November general election. Feely, with the "full and unconditional support" of former President Donald Trump, defeated former state legislator Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough.
In a video message shortly before the election, Trump described Feely as "a true America First conservative" and urged voters to support him. The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) also included Feely in its "MAGA Majority" program, which backs pro-America First candidates in competitive districts.
In the final weeks of the primary, the race turned nasty. His opponent Joseph Chaplik accused Feely on X of "importing Haitians." Feely called the allegation racist and said the Haitians in question are part of his family. Chaplik argued that his accusation was not about Feely's family members but about "a history of bringing large numbers of Haitian migrants to NGOs for amnesty purposes."
Feely stated that he had carried out humanitarian work in Haiti for years after the devastating 2010 earthquake. Emphasizing that this work was humanitarian, not political, Feely said he helped two Haitian youths – a translator he worked with and his brother – come to the US, considers them part of his family, and tried to help some of their relatives settle.
Arizona's 1st Congressional District covers northeastern Maricopa County and large parts of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills, and is seen as a competitive district by both parties. Incumbent Representative David Schweikert ran for governor but lost his primary.
Jay Feely will face Democratic candidates in the November general election. In the Democratic primary, former state representative Amish Shah and former television news anchor Marlene Galán-Woods are leading. Also running are Rick McCartney and Jonathan Treble.
Maria Nica / Editor
