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Former NFL kicker Jay Feely has moved from primary candidate to Republican nominee in his quest to win a seat in Congress — and his opponent is familiar.
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Feely, who counts the New York Jets among his former employers, is campaigning to win Arizona’s First Congressional District, a hotly contested seat with control of the House up for grabs in the November midterm elections. Feely won the primary election this week and is running against the winner of the Democratic primary — Amish Shah, who was a team doctor for the Jets during Feely’s time in New York.
The 50-year-old Feely played for six NFL teams, including the Jets from 2008-09. While he appeared in four games with the Chicago Bears in 2014, the end of his career effectively came after four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2009-13), with the Florida native and Michigan alum retiring in the Phoenix area. He captured 49.8% of the votes, according to unofficial election results in Maricopa County.
Shah is an emergency room physician who served five years in the Arizona state legislature. He has made medicine part of his platform, stating his goals include lowering the cost of health care and bringing down the price of essential medications, including insulin. He also has vowed to fight for abortion rights as well as to protect Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
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He gained 39.9% of the votes to top the Democratic field
Feely went into broadcasting after his playing career was over and launched his campaign in 2025. He supports President Donald Trump, who endorsed him in the primary campaign.
He has said he is pro-business and a conservative, both fiscally and socially, and has backed the Trump agenda.
The First Congressional District serves a diverse population of Maricopa County. The district includes part of north Phoenix, as well as the upscale Paradise Valley, Scottsdale and Fountain Hills areas, plus the Salt River and Fort McDowell Yavapai National tribal reservations.
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The general election is Nov. 3.
–Field Level Media
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This story was originally published July 24, 2026 at 8:53 AM.