Jay Feely tells GOP convention the American dream is on the line in Arizona’s CD 1 race

Arizona congressional candidate Jay Feely told Republicans at their midterm convention Wednesday night that the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump inspired him to leave the broadcast booth and run for office.

“788 days ago when a gunman opened fire on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, America held its breath and the fragility of everything we held dear came into focus,” Feely told the audience at the two-day convention in Dallas.

He was the only Arizona candidate or elected official on the convention’s speaker lineup.

The Trump-endorsed candidate used his roughly six-minute speech to draw a contrast with Democrat Amish Shah, calling his opponent a “socialist” aligned with Sen. Bernie Sanders.

“Democrat socialists like Bernie Sanders and my opponent Amish Shah, they aren’t the fringe of the Democratic Party. They are the Democratic Party,” Feely said. “They have clearly articulated their visions, as you’ve heard here tonight. Abolish prisons, abolish borders, abolish the U.S. Senate, socialize our healthcare system and even take away your private property rights. This would fundamentally change our very republic.”

Feely echoed the convention’s broader theme of casting Republicans as the “common sense” alternative, calling for lower taxes, fewer regulations and policies that help young Americans “purchase a home, start a family and achieve the American dream.”

“Americans, we cannot tax our way to prosperity, nor regulate our way to abundance,” Feely said. “Prosperity has to be created.”

Amish Shah draws contrast between him and Jay Feely

Shah’s campaign released a video shortly before Feely took the stage, showing the emergency room physician treating patients as his competitor headed to the convention stage in Dallas “to pledge his undying loyalty to his golf buddy, Donald Trump.”

“Arizonans have a clear choice in this election: a loyal Trump lapdog in Jay Feely, or an independent leader who always puts Arizonans first in Dr. Amish Shah,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Lindsay Reilly said in a statement.

While my opponent is pledging his loyalty to Donald Trump in Dallas, I’m in the ER taking care of Arizonans. pic.twitter.com/iw4FavVZHU

— Amish Shah, MD (@DrAmishShah) September 9, 2026

The 1st Congressional District, which spans the suburbs north of Phoenix, is one of House Democrats’ top targets in November after Trump carried it by just three points in 2024.

Feely was introduced by Michigan GOP Senate nominee Mike Rogers, who drew cheers from the crowd.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Related

Maricopa County voters to get single-page ballot for Nov. 3 electionOnly 1 Arizona candidate is on GOP midterm convention speaker listYour guide to Arizona’s 2026 general election debates: Candidates face off in top racesRuben Gallego wants to ban lawmaker stock trades if Democrats take CongressRepublican candidate Andy Biggs wants to expand ESA options for rural and disadvantaged studentsAndy Biggs defends record of protecting women, children amid Katie Hobbs’ FLDS accusations