On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, former NFL kicker Jay Feely secured the Republican nomination for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, a competitive Phoenix-area seat that will play a key role in determining House control. Feely received President Donald Trump’s "complete and total endorsement" in the final stretch of the race, defeating former state lawmaker Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough. The district includes northeastern Maricopa County and large parts of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills, according to Arizona PBS’ candidate forum.

Feely’s GOP primary campaign became increasingly personal in its final weeks when Chaplik accused him on X of having "imported Haitians," a remark Feely described as racist and directed at Haitian men he considers family, as reported by Axios Phoenix. Feely has spent years doing nonprofit relief work in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake and defended his efforts as humanitarian, not political, stating he helped two young Haitian men—a translator he worked with and the translator’s brother—come to the U.S.

Trump’s influence was evident across Arizona’s primaries, with his endorsed candidates winning key Republican contests. Andy Biggs, a former House Freedom Caucus chair and Trump endorsee, easily won the GOP nomination for governor, topping Rep. David Schweikert and other Republican candidates by over 50 points. Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, another Trump-backed candidate, won the GOP primary in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District, the deep-red seat Biggs is vacating to run for governor. Trump-backed Juan Ciscomani advanced in Arizona's 6th Congressional District after running unopposed.

Democrats avoided a far-left upset in one of the state’s House races, with Katie Hobbs cruising to renomination after running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

These results underscore President Trump’s continued sway within the GOP and set up high-stakes general election battles in Arizona this November.

Sources