By Matthew Holloway |
Republican congressional nominee Jay Feely and Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher joined the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) on Saturday for the opening of a new campaign “Battlestation” in Scottsdale. The event took place as Republicans build out their ground operation in one of the country’s most competitive congressional races.
The NRCC said the Scottsdale office will serve as a hub for the grassroots operation supporting Feely, including volunteer recruitment, voter contact, and turnout efforts ahead of the general election.
The opening places another piece of the national Republican Party’s field organization directly inside Arizona. In July, Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and the NRCC opened a Battlestation in Sierra Vista for the competitive Sixth Congressional District race.
The NRCC has described its Battlestation program as a multimillion-dollar national investment designed to establish permanent field operations in competitive House districts. In a May strategy document, the committee said it already had more than 20 offices operating around the country.
By late June, NOTUS reported that the network had grown to more than 30 Battlestations in key congressional districts. The broader Republican strategy is focused heavily on identifying and turning out voters who supported President Donald Trump but are historically less likely to vote in midterm elections.
The Scottsdale opening comes as Republicans and Democrats prepare for a closely watched contest between Feely and Democratic nominee Amish Shah for the seat being vacated by Republican Rep. David Schweikert.
Feely, a former Arizona Cardinals kicker and longtime NFL broadcaster, won the Republican primary in July with approximately half of the GOP vote, defeating former state Rep. Joseph Chaplik and businessman John Trobough.
Shah, an emergency physician and former Arizona state representative, won a four-way Democratic primary after defeating former television journalist Marlene Galán-Woods, whom the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had backed. Shah previously challenged Schweikert in 2024 and lost by approximately four percentage points.
The open seat emerged after Schweikert gave up his congressional reelection bid to run for governor. He was subsequently defeated by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ05) in the Republican gubernatorial primary.
The district, which includes much of Scottsdale, northeast Phoenix, Paradise Valley, and Fountain Hills, is regarded as one of the races that could help determine control of the House. The Cook Political Report rates CD1 a Toss Up, with a R+1 partisan voting index.
Feely has already received substantial support from national Republicans.
In March, the NRCC named him to its first group of candidates in the committee’s “MAGA Majority” program, the successor to its longtime Young Guns candidate program. The initiative provides targeted Republican candidates with strategic support, resources, and national exposure.
The committee expanded the program to 24 candidates in July, with Feely remaining among its targeted contenders.
President Trump also endorsed Feely and reiterated that support shortly before the July primary.
“There’s an incredibly important election coming up in your state,” Trump said in a video endorsement, calling Feely a “true America First conservative” and saying he would support lower taxes, reduced regulation, border security, and law enforcement.
Urlacher’s participation in Saturday’s opening also reflects the unusual level of support Feely has received from figures in professional sports. Urlacher spent his entire 13-season NFL career with the Chicago Bears and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018. He is also among the sports figures who have financially backed Feely’s congressional campaign.
Campaign finance records show Urlacher contributed $7,000 to Feely.
Feely has also received contributions from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, former Phoenix Suns star Charles Barkley, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway, broadcaster Jim Nantz, and members of the Arizona Cardinals’ Bidwill family.
After Feely won the primary, the NRCC said after Feely won the primary that Republicans intend to campaign on affordability, economic policy, and public safety in the district.
“As a former NFL player, business leader and charity founder, Jay Feely understands the Valley needs fiscally conservative leadership so every Arizonan can prosper and live the American Dream,” NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said. “That’s why Arizonans will send Jay Feely to fight the tax-and-spend politicians in Washington D.C., lower the cost of groceries, gas and housing and protect our public safety and quality of life.”
The committee has already begun spending against Shah as well, launching a paid digital advertising campaign following the Democratic primary.
With the Scottsdale Battlestation now open, the national Republican effort in Arizona’s First Congressional District is moving from the primary campaign into its general-election turnout operation with just over two months remaining before Election Day.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
