Shah Leads Feely in Arizona’s Closely Watched House Race

Democrat Amish Shah held a lead over Republican Jay Feely in the contest for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District on November 3, but neither candidate had been declared the winner by late Tuesday night. At 11 p.m., Shah had 54.9% of the vote to Feely’s 43.3%, and the Associated Press had not called the race. Earlier, at 8:14 p.m., Shah was at 55%, with the contest still too close to call.

The candidates are vying to succeed Republican David Schweikert, who represented the district for 15 years before leaving the seat to run for governor. The north Valley district includes parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Cave Creek, and its outcome could affect control of the U.S. House. Multiple outlets projected Democrats would win enough seats nationally to take the chamber.

Shah, an emergency room doctor and former Arizona state representative, also ran for the seat in 2024, losing to Schweikert. Feely, a former NFL kicker and sports broadcaster who has never held public office, won the Republican primary after receiving President Donald Trump’s endorsement.

Both campaigns sought to cast the other candidate as extreme. Feely’s campaign described Shah as a socialist, while Shah argued Feely would answer to Trump rather than district residents. Shah said late Tuesday he would represent voters regardless of whom they supported. Before results came in, Feely thanked his campaign supporters and spoke about faith.

Shah’s Lead Puts Democrats on Track in Key Arizona House Race

Amish Shah led Jay Feely in Arizona’s closely watched 1st Congressional District race on November 3, with late Tuesday returns showing Shah at 54.9% and Feely at 43.3%. The Associated Press had not called the contest by 11 p.m., but the early advantage put a Democrat in front in a district Republicans have held through David Schweikert.

The result could help shape the next House majority. Multiple outlets had already projected Democrats to win enough seats nationally to retake the chamber, though this Arizona contest remained unresolved. The district covers parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale and Cave Creek and has moved toward the center over the last decade, despite a Republican registration advantage.

Shah, an emergency room doctor and former state legislator, said he would represent the whole district, including people who voted against him. Feely, a former NFL kicker backed by Donald Trump, was attacked by Shah over his ties to the president. Feely’s campaign, meanwhile, tried to brand Shah a socialist. The race puts the district’s choice between a local physician with legislative experience and a political newcomer closely aligned with Trump in sharp focus.

Feely Trails in Arizona Race After Shah’s Socialist Attacks

Republican Jay Feely trailed Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District on November 3, as late returns showed the Democrat with 54.9% and Feely with 43.3%. The Associated Press had not declared a winner by 11 p.m. The contest is for the seat being vacated by David Schweikert and remains one of the country’s closely watched House races.

Feely entered politics as a former NFL kicker and sports broadcaster, won the Republican primary, and secured Donald Trump’s endorsement. He has never held public office. Shah, an emergency room doctor and former state representative, is making a second run for the seat after losing to Schweikert in 2024.

The campaigns fought over which candidate voters should see as extreme. Feely’s ads called Shah a socialist, while Shah argued Feely would be beholden to Trump instead of the people of the district. That contrast is central to a race in a district with a Republican voter-registration edge that has shifted toward the center over the past decade. Feely thanked supporters before the first results arrived and spoke about the importance of faith; Shah later said he intended to represent voters across the district.