EXCLUSIVE: New poll shows strong support for Jay Feely in Arizona’s 1st District
Jay Feely starts off in a strong position in both a primary and general election in the swing-y 1st District of Arizona, according to a new poll obtained exclusively by the Washington Reporter.
A new poll by GrayHouse obtained by the Washington Reporter suggests strong support for the former NFL kicker Jay Feely in Arizona’s 1st District. While Feely is currently running for Congress in Arizona’s 5th District, the poll favors a potential district swap by the Arizona football legend.
The GrayHouse survey of 500 likely voters in Arizona’s 1st District, conducted November 15-17 with a margin of error of 4.4 points, comes just after Rep. David Schweikert (R., Ariz.) announced a run for governor instead of for re-election. President Donald Trump won the Scottsdale and northeast Phoenix seat by 3 percent in 2024 while now-Sen. Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.) carried it by 5 percent in his Senate bid.
On the initial ballot, before any additional information is provided, Feely and a generic Democrat are tied at 42 percent to 42 percent, with 16 percent undecided. Gina Swoboda, the Arizona GOP chair, starts behind: 40 percent for Swoboda, 43 percent for a Democrat, and 17 percent undecided.
After respondents were given short biographies of each Republican, Feely’s odds improved further still. With Feely introduced as a political outsider, long-time Arizona Cardinals kicker, school-board member, and charitable founder who serves on the boards of a defense technology company and an American manufacturer, he led the Democrat 46 percent to 39 percent on the informed ballot. When voters heard Swoboda’s biography as state party chair and national election integrity advocate, she trailed 39 percent to 45 percent.
Favorability numbers follow the same pattern. Among those familiar enough to rate Jay Feely, he is above water, with a net image of plus 4 points overall and plus 21 among Republicans. Swoboda’s rating is net negative 3 points overall. Two likely Democratic contenders from 2024, Amish Shah and Marlene Galán-Woods, are also underwater at minus 5 and minus 6 respectively. Feely is the only figure tested whose favorable ratings exceed his unfavorable ratings in the electorate as a whole.
Trump singled out Feely in a Truth Social post delivering Trump’s endorsement to former Pinal County sheriff Mark Lamb in Arizona’s 5th District. Trump said he would like to see the former Cardinals kicker run in another district or for another office.