Arizona’s 1st Congressional District will see a rematch between Democrat Amish Shah and Republican Jay Feely after both won their respective primaries on Tuesday. The race is one of the most competitive in the country, with the Cook Political Report rating it a "tossup." Meanwhile, in Arizona’s 2nd District, incumbent Republican Eli Crane will face Democrat Jonathan Nez, the former Navajo Nation President, in November.
Key Developments
Shah, a physician and former state legislator, defeated Marlene Galán-Woods, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) preferred candidate, by roughly 6 percentage points. Galán-Woods had been added to the DCCC’s "Red to Blue" program in May. Feely, a former NFL kicker and CBS broadcaster, secured the GOP nomination with 49.8% of the vote, defeating Joseph Chaplik, a former state representative.
Context and Implications
The 1st District, which includes Scottsdale and areas northeast of Phoenix, has been a battleground in recent elections. David Schweikert, the outgoing Republican representative, lost his gubernatorial primary to Andy Biggs on Tuesday. Shah narrowly lost to Schweikert in the 2024 general election by nearly 4 percentage points. The district leans slightly Republican, with Donald Trump winning it by about 3 points in 2024.
In the 2nd District, Crane, a first-term congressman, faces Nez in a rematch. The district, which stretches from Flagstaff to Phoenix and includes 12 Native American reservations, is a greater reach for Democrats but remains a target for the DCCC.
Campaign Dynamics
Feely’s campaign received support from high-profile figures, including Roger Goodell, the NFL commissioner, and Donald Trump, who endorsed him. Feely framed his candidacy as a defense against what he described as the Democratic Party’s embrace of "democratic socialism." Shah, meanwhile, has positioned himself as a moderate Democrat, contrasting with Galán-Woods, who signed a pledge rebuking the party’s left wing.
Funding and Outside Influence
The DCCC spent roughly $500,000 on joint ads with Galán-Woods, while other outside groups spent nearly $3 million supporting her. Independent spending in the race included over $90,000 to oppose Shah from Crush MAGA PAC, an organization that has targeted left-leaning candidates.
The outcomes in these races could play a pivotal role in determining control of the House in the midterm elections.