Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is the latest Republican candidate to enter the already crowded GOP CD1 race after shifting his congressional bid from Arizona’s 5th Congressional District. Feely, who originally entered the CD5 race in April 2025, announced his candidacy to succeed Rep. Andy Biggs by stating, “I’m announcing my candidacy for Congress in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District … The contrast between the two parties has never been sharper.”

However, Feely ran into headwinds early on when President Donald Trump publicly endorsed former Sheriff Mark Lamb for CD5. In that endorsement, Trump stated that he “would like to see Jay Feely run in another district or for another office.”

Feely added, “After much thought and prayerful consideration with my family and discussions with Arizona’s grassroots & business leaders, as well as Republican leadership, I have decided to pivot my campaign for Congress to Arizona’s 1st Congressional District. When I chose to walk away from my NFL broadcasting career, keeping the Republican majority was the primary focus. We must maintain a GOP majority to ensure lower costs for Arizona’s families, safety in our neighborhoods, and the preservation of the American Dream.”

He continued, “After nearly a quarter century in professional football, I know that no one player is more important than the well-being of the team. In this moment, the best way I can serve our GOP team is to defend this crucial Republican seat. I look forward to earning each citizen’s vote as we embark on this crucial mission.”

Arizona’s 1st Congressional District is drawing a crowded Republican primary field ahead of the 2026 election, with 11 candidates seeking to replace outgoing Rep. David Schweikert. The current frontrunners among the 11 GOP candidates are Gina Swoboda, chair of the Arizona Republican Party, and Joseph Chaplik, a sitting state representative.

As of publication, President Trump has not endorsed any candidate for CD1, and neither Swoboda nor Chaplik has issued public campaign statements in response to Feely’s entry.

Feely initially captured the national spotlight with his stance against men in women’s sports.

Arizona’s 1st Congressional District is expected to be among the most closely watched races in the state during the 2026 election cycle. The Republican primary winner will advance to the general election in a district that has seen closely contested races in recent cycles. In a sign of the competitiveness of the CD1 race, 13 Democratic candidates have filed statements of interest for the seat.