CD1 primary – In Arizona’s 1st Congressional District GOP primary, Jay Feely and John Trobough sparred on the Iran conflict as the race for Schweikert’s seat intensifies.
A fight over the Iran war and who best represents “America First” voters is shaping up fast in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, as Trump-backed Jay Feely and fellow Republican John Trobough traded sharp messages in a PBS candidate forum.
The May 5 “Conversation with Candidates” event gave two of the Republican contenders a chance to pitch themselves to voters in the Northeast Valley area. where Republican voters have long backed incumbent U.S.. Rep.. David Schweikert.. The report stated that former state Rep.. Joe Chaplik was scheduled to participate but declined earlier in the day.
Meanwhile, the debate underscored how quickly the open-seat contest is becoming more defined, even before the primary fully crystallizes.. For Feely and Trobough. the audience mattered: Northeast Valley voters have repeatedly rewarded a continuity of representation. even as the district’s broader political dynamics are poised to intensify this cycle.
Republicans are seeking a successor after Schweikert heads into the next phase of his political career. Both candidates described their priorities in a similar framework on multiple issues, but they diverged on the question of U.S. action in the Iran war—a gap that has now become a focal point.
Feely, a former NFL kicker and CBS Sports football commentator, said he backed the Trump administration’s approach.. He argued the U.S.. involvement ultimately improved the situation for the country, while acknowledging that the conflict has also coincided with higher gas prices.. In his remarks at the forum. Feely framed the decision as protective of the nation even if it was politically uncomfortable in the short term.
Trobough, by contrast, said the White House had information and expertise that were not available to others, including himself.. Still. he characterized the timing of the war as unfortunate. particularly for Republicans who had campaigned on an “America First” platform—an argument that implicitly seeks to separate how the conflict was managed from the broader political message voters had been given.
The forum also became a vehicle for direct attacks between candidates beyond policy.. Feely criticized Chaplik for not attending the PBS event. calling him “No show Joe.” Shortly after the event. his campaign began sponsoring an opposition website—noshowjoechaplik.com—highlighting Chaplik’s attendance record during his time in the state legislature.
Chaplik responded in a May 6 post on X, saying he missed eight days of the legislative session last year after his mother died. He also stated he did not want to attend a debate he described as being run by a “leftist moderator” for a “tiny left-wing audience.”
A Republican consultant working with Trobough called Chaplik’s absence a self-inflicted mistake, arguing many voters remain undecided and would have benefited from hearing the case directly from all contenders.
The money side of the race is adding another layer to the primary’s dynamics.. The report stated that Feely leads the Republican field in fundraising strength. with more than $1.2 million in cash on hand. according to federal campaign finance data.. Feely reported nearly $750,000 raised during the last quarterly period, while Trobough had just under $400,000 and Chaplik had over $265,000 available.
The district itself helps explain why the primary could be unusually consequential.. CD1 covers northeast Phoenix. Scottsdale. Paradise Valley. Cave Creek. and Fountain Hills. and it has become a heavily targeted battleground for both parties.. It is expected to be among the most competitive House races nationally this campaign season—despite the district’s history of voting Republican for more than a decade.
Still, strategists said the hurdles in a primary are different from the ones in general elections. Another Republican consultant noted that middle-leaning voters often stay home in primaries, meaning the Trump endorsement could carry substantial weight in deciding the GOP nomination.
Insight: In a district where Republicans have repeatedly selected the same brand of leadership. Feely and Trobough’s clash over the Iran war—and their competing interpretations of “America First”—signals how the contest may be decided.. Even when candidates overlap on other policy areas. the primary electorate can zero in quickly on moments that test judgment. messaging discipline. and alignment with the Trump brand.
On the Democratic side, the field is also taking clearer shape.. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced it is backing former broadcast journalist Marlene Galán-Woods. adding her to its “Red to Blue” program. described as one that provides organizational and fundraising support to high-competition candidates.
Both Galán-Woods and former state Rep. Amish Shah are rerunning after Shah won the CD1 Democratic primary in 2024, emerging from a six-candidate race. Galán-Woods finished third in that contest and lost to Shah by a margin of just more than 2%.
In a statement, the DCCC chair praised Galán-Woods as a familiar voice to Arizonans from two decades in broadcast journalism, arguing she can cut through political noise and push back against extremists while focusing on practical results.
Shah, meanwhile, framed the endorsement as interference, saying the election should be decided by Arizona voters rather than establishment figures.. He argued voters are looking for new leadership to oppose Trump and what he described as MAGA Republicans’ lawlessness. and to defend both democracy and healthcare.
The campaign finance picture in the Democratic primary is competitive as well.. The report stated that in April quarterly filings. Galán-Woods outraised her Democratic opponents with $438. 000 in the period. while Jonathan Treble—founder of the smart amenities company WithMe—raised just over $400. 000 and Shah raised nearly $250. 000.. Treble has the most cash on hand among the Democratic candidates, at $1.6 million.
A consultant conducting polling for Shah in February reported that Shah was leading Galán-Woods by more than 20%. though about half of respondents said they were undecided.. The consultant also criticized the DCCC endorsement as a signal of institutional involvement. suggesting local conditions and voter familiarity may diverge from the party’s broader strategy.
Insight: With Feely’s Trump endorsement potentially acting as a decisive accelerant in the Republican primary. and with the DCCC seeking to elevate Galán-Woods through its “Red to Blue” pipeline. CD1’s nomination fights may hinge as much on outside organizational momentum as on candidate visibility.. The coming weeks are likely to show whether those endorsements translate into persuasion—or whether voters in northeast Phoenix and beyond reward a more idiosyncratic. less brand-driven approach.
Arizona CD1 primary Jay Feely John Trobough Iran war debate Marlene Galán-Woods