Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is on track to face off against Dr. Amish Shah, a former New York Jets team doctor, in the competitive race for Arizona's 1st Congressional District. Feely secured the Republican nomination in the district, which includes northeastern Maricopa County, while Shah is currently leading the Democratic field in a race that remains too close to call.
Feely and Shah were both associated with the New York Jets during the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Feely played as the team's kicker, and Shah served as an emergency care physician. "If it ends up being Amish Shah, he and I were both with the Jets at one time together. I was playing, he was a doctor," Feely told reporters following his primary victory.
Feely, who played 14 seasons in the NFL for six different teams, including the Jets and Giants, was endorsed by President Trump in January. He previously worked as a CBS football analyst. Shah is an emergency physician at the Mayo Clinic Arizona and a former member of the Arizona House of Representatives.
The 1st Congressional District seat is open because incumbent Rep. David Schweikert opted to run for governor, a bid that ended Tuesday night with his loss in the gubernatorial primary. Democrats have identified the district as a key target for flipping as they aim to regain a majority in the House. The district, which encompasses parts of Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and north Phoenix, is considered a toss-up in the general election.