Republican Jay Feely courts independents with affordability pitch in House race

Republican congressional candidate Jay Feely says his path to victory in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District runs through independent voters, even in a district where Republicans hold a nearly 59,000-voter registration advantage.

In a Monday interview on KTAR News 92.3’s The Mike Broomhead Show, Feely said the Nov. 3 general election will require him to reach beyond Republican primary voters.

Feely is running against Democratic candidate Amish Shah.

“You have 60,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, but you have 180,000 registered independents,” Feely said. “So you have to win half of the independents.”

Arizona’s 1st Congressional District covers much of the northeast Valley, including Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree and parts of north Phoenix. The district is entirely within Maricopa County.

Independent voters make up a growing share of CD1

The numbers show CD1 remains Republican-leaning by registration, but voters outside the two major parties remain large enough to shape the outcome.

As of this month’s primary registration, Republicans had 194,041 active registered voters in the district, compared with 135,360 Democrats, a difference of 58,681 voters.

Voters listed as “Other,” a category that includes many independents, totaled 170,733. When Libertarian, Green and No Labels voters are included, non-major party voters totaled 179,442, making up about 35% of active registered voters.

That group has grown modestly since the current congressional map took effect after redistricting following the 2020 census.

In 2022, “Other” voters made up 33% of active registered voters in District 1. By 2026, they made up 33.6%. Over the same period, Republicans grew from 37.9% to 38.1% of active registered voters.

Competing visions on affordability

Feely said his pitch to win over independents will focus on pocketbook issues and affordability.

“I think whether you’re a Republican or even a Democrat or an independent, you care about the economy, and you care about affordability, and you care about the future for your children and your grandchildren,” Feely said.

Feely framed the race against Shah as an ideological choice, saying the two parties have “never been further apart.”

On their campaign websites, both candidates say they want to lower costs, but they point to different Trump-era policies.

Feely’s campaign says he would expand Trump-era tax cuts, cut regulations, boost domestic manufacturing and bring down inflation.

Shah’s campaign says Trump administration tariffs are raising costs on groceries, gas, cars and housing and says he would work to roll them back while making housing and health care more affordable.

Feely said he welcomes a debate with Shah.

“If you aren’t willing to debate your opponent, then you shouldn’t be in office,” Feely said.

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