Jay Feely on Immigration: How a Haiti Mission Relationship Shaped His Perspective
As the race for Arizona’s CD1 heats up, Jay Feely says a relationship formed during Christian mission work in Haiti gave him a deeply personal perspective on legal immigration.
Behind the politics of immigration, Feely says there is a personal story that shaped how he sees the issue.
In the conversation below, Feely explains how a mission trip and his relationship with a young man from Haiti helped shape his views on immigration.
During our initial interview, Jay Feely spoke about how his family’s Christian mission work helped shape his views on immigration. Through those trips, the Feely family formed a close relationship with a young man from Haiti who later spent time living with them in the United States — someone Feely often describes as being “like a son.”
Feely said the experience gave him a personal window into the complexities of legal immigration, faith-based humanitarian work, and the human stories that exist alongside the policy debates dominating Washington.
In this interview with State 48 News, Feely discusses that journey and how it shaped his perspective on immigration.
This interview is a dedicated conversation on his experiences with immigration. A special thanks to Feely and Wedner for sharing their remarkable journey with State 48 News.
Arizona CD1 Is the Race to Watch — The State of the Race
Covering Scottsdale and parts of north Phoenix, the swing district has long been one of the most competitive in the state. Now, with multiple high-profile Republicans entering the primary, the race is shaping up to become one of the most closely watched congressional contests in the country.
Longtime incumbent David Schweikert has announced he will not seek reelection to Congress, choosing instead to run for governor — a move that has stirred frustration among some Arizona Republicans who publicly urged him to remain in the seat to avoid handing Democrats a prime pickup opportunity.
CD1 has been one of the most competitive districts in the state, and Schweikert’s departure instantly transforms it into a true open-seat battleground.
President Trump is hanging onto the United States House by a razer-thin majority and can’t afford to lose the seat.
Adding to the turbulence was the brief “in-and-out” moment surrounding former AZGOP chair Gina Swoboda.
Republicans are expected to coalesce around candidates emphasizing border security, fiscal restraint, and alignment with the Trump agenda, knowing the district still leans center-right when turnout models break in their favor.
Democrats, meanwhile, view the open seat as a golden opportunity. Likely contenders are positioning themselves as pragmatic suburban alternatives, targeting independent voters who have shown volatility in recent cycles.
CD1 represents a blend of affluent suburbs, business sectors, and fast-growing residential communities that have become evidence of a shifting electorate.
The Republican primary is shaping up as a clear two-way contest between former State Representative Joseph Chaplik and former NFL kicker and broadcaster Jay Feely.
Joseph Chaplik, a recent former state lawmaker with a solid conservative voting record and an established base inside the district. Chaplik has built his reputation on election integrity, limited government, and direct confrontation with what he characterizes as establishment politics. Unlike Feely, Chaplik brings Capitol experience, procedural knowledge, and deep local relationships. When retail politics and municipal familiarity matter, Chaplik holds the structural edge.
His challenge is expanding beyond his core supporters in a district where winning often requires persuading independents and pragmatic suburban voters.
Jay Feely, the former NFL kicker turned national sports broadcaster, is not a career politician — and that is precisely the lane he is running in.
Feely entered the race with instant name recognition and the endorsement of President Donald Trump. He had initially been running in Arizona’s CD5 race but stepped aside after Trump backed Sheriff Mark Lamb, who quickly emerged as the clear favorite in that contest.
Notably, Feely relocated into CD1 after Trump publicly encouraged him to “run a different race” than CD-5.
Whether President Trump’s endorsement is enough to neutralize concerns about Feely shifting districts remains an open question.
Voters in CD1 will ultimately decide whether they view the move as strategic alignment at Trump’s urging — or as political opportunism.
The central test for Feely is credibility: can he quickly establish authentic roots in the district, or will primary voters see him as an outsider stepping into a race shaped by local dynamics and long-standing community ties?
His appeal rests on outsider credentials, media polish, and alignment with the Trump coalition. The broader question is whether celebrity, endorsement power, and message discipline can outweigh the absence of legislative experience in a district that often rewards policy fluency and political precision.
State 48 News has issued an open invitation to sit down with Chaplik to discuss his background and race. We interviewed Feely when he first announced for CD5. If you missed that interview we will insert it below.
