Arizona Primaries Test Trump-Backed Candidates in Three House Races

Three congressional primaries in Arizona on July 21 will test President Trump's endorsements in a state that flipped to him in 2024 after supporting former President Joe Biden in 2020, with Republicans holding six of the state's nine U.S. House seats amid a slim national majority of 218 seats including one independent who caucuses with them while Democrats hold 212 seats and four remain vacant.

In the 1st Congressional District, former NFL Pro Bowl kicker Jay Feely seeks the Republican nomination to succeed retiring Rep. David Schweikert, who is running for Arizona governor. Feely faces former state Rep. Joe Chaplik and businessman John Trobough after President Trump endorsed him and he switched districts once the endorsement made another candidate the clear frontrunner elsewhere.

The candidates largely align on immigration, economic policy, and other issues, though they differ on the placement of AI data centers. Democratic candidates in the district include former state legislator Amish Shah and former television news anchor Marlene Galán-Woods, who was endorsed by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, though Shah defeated Galán-Woods by roughly 1,700 votes in the 2024 primary.

In the 5th Congressional District, former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, also endorsed by President Trump, runs against construction business owner Daniel Keenan to replace Rep. Andy Biggs, who is seeking the governorship. The Arizona Republic reported allegations that Lamb engaged in sexting, threats, intimidation, nude photo-sharing, and sending racist messages, and that he recently purchased a multimillion-dollar ranch in Tennessee.

Keenan has spent personal funds on ads highlighting the claims.