Chandler: Republicans Battle to Hold Arizona's Most Contested Congressional Seat as Schweikert Runs for Governor

The seat that splits Arizona

Congressional District 1 is the only district in Arizona that voted for both Donald Trump and Ruben Gallego in 2024. That split defines a race that Republicans consider essential to hold and Democrats view as their best path to flipping a House seat in this year's midterms.

The seat is now open. Rep. David Schweikert, who represented CD1 since 2010, is running for governor. The district covers Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, and parts of Phoenix and Mesa. Voters in those cities will decide which party controls one of the nation's most competitive House districts.

Who is running

The Republican primary features a crowded field. According to an Arizona Republic report on Sunday, the front-runner is Jay Feely, the former Arizona Cardinals kicker.

Feely carries two major endorsements. President Donald Trump endorsed him. The U.S. House Republican leadership, including Speaker Mike Johnson, also endorsed Feely.

"The front-runner in the race so far is former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely, who has both the coveted President Trump endorsement and endorsements from the U.S. House's Republican leadership, including House Speaker Mike Johnson," the Arizona Republic reported.

The report noted that the primary is "not a done deal" for Feely and that "other competitors are vying for the district's vote, too."

Why Chandler voters matter

Chandler sits in the heart of CD1. The district's political makeup makes it a bellwether for Arizona's broader electorate. In 2024, the district backed Trump for president while sending Gallego, a Democrat, to the Senate. That pattern shows a electorate willing to split its tickets.

The Arizona Republic described CD1 as "one of the state's two swing districts" and "one of the most competitive districts in the nation."

Democrats see Schweikert's departure as an opening. The report stated that "Democrats are hoping this is their opportunity to flip the seat to blue."

Republicans face a different challenge. They must first consolidate their primary voters behind a single candidate before facing the general election. The report characterized the race as one Republicans are "desperate to keep" and called it "an uphill battle — even if Schweikert had stayed."

What happens next

Arizona's primary election is scheduled for July. The Republican primary will determine which candidate advances to the general election in November. The winner of CD1 will represent the east valley in the U.S. House for the next two years.

The Arizona Republic directed readers to a podcast episode from their "The Gaggle" program, hosted by national politics reporter Laura Gersony, for a deeper look at the candidates on the ballot. Readers can contact producer Amanda Luberto at the outlet for questions about the race.