Jay Feely Once Preached Purpose Over Politics. Now He’s (likely) in the Game
Looking into his voting history and likely candidacy.
Former Arizona Cardinals kicker and CBS commentator Jay Feely is expected to announce a run for Congress in Arizona's 5th District later today April 22, entering what could become one of the state’s most-watched Republican primaries. Feely’s candidacy brings name recognition, sports celebrity status, and the backing of key Trump-aligned figures — but his 2023 voter registration update briefly raised questions about whether he had left the party.
Feely — whose legal name is Thomas, is a long-time East Valley resident who currently resides in Gilbert — is confirmed to be a registered Republican, according to his Maricopa County voter file. However, in 2023 he submitted a registration update in which he left the party field blank — a move that raised questions whether he intended to re-register as an independent, as he had in previous years. The Maricopa County Recorder’s Office clarified that under current protocols, leaving the party field blank does not change the voter’s affiliation. Feely’s Republican status remained unchanged.
He also returned a postcard included with a standard voter ID mailing, which re-added him to the Active Early Voting List (AEVL), overriding a prior opt-out.
"I implore you to think about the ideals that you had when you got into politics... and to not get caught up in partisan politics or running for re-election."
— Jay Feely, speaking to the Arizona Senate in 2014
That quote came from Arizona’s Legislative Opening Day1 in 2014, when then-Senate President Andy Biggs invited Feely to deliver remarks to the full chamber — offering a vision of civic duty rooted in faith, humility, and service.
In the address, Feely offered a strikingly earnest vision of public service — one rooted in humility, purpose, and moral conviction. “You are in a job that is public service, and you've committed to service... I implore you to remember that every day,” he told lawmakers, urging them to resist partisan distractions and lead with integrity. He warned against fear-driven politics, saying, “When you don’t have that fear of failure, it allows you to be the best that you can be.” Feely spoke of faith, family, and the power of personal example, shaped by the life of his brother with disabilities. “I’ve always believed God has a special purpose and plan for each of us,” he said.
More than a decade later, politics in Arizona — and across the country — has grown far more combative, tribal, and cynical. As Feely prepares to step into that very arena, backed by MAGA figures and aligning with hard-right operatives, the question becomes whether he still holds to the principles he once championed. If elected, will he lead with the same courage and conscience he once demanded of others? Or will he get “caught up in partisan politics or running for reelection,” as he once warned against?
(Feely did not vote in the 2016 Presidential Preference Election in Arizona, when Trump was first vying for the nomination.)
Though he has never held public office, Feely has gradually built political clout in conservative circles. In October 2024, he contributed $500 to the Kari Lake Victory Committee, aligning himself with one of Arizona’s most prominent Trump-endorsed figures. His political consultant, Brian Seitchik, is a veteran of Donald Trump’s 2020 Arizona campaign and has represented hard-right GOP candidates across the state.
Feely also met with Republican lawmakers in Washington in March, introduced by Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio.
The AZ05 field
Feely is expected to face two other candidates in the Republican primary: Travis Grantham and Alex Stovall, as of now.
Stovall previously faced a U.S. Army Reserve investigation after appearing in uniform in political ads and questioning President Biden’s legitimacy.
Grantham, a more conventional GOP figure, brings a well-established East Valley legislative record and may appeal to traditional Republican voters, but lack significant name ID. Grantham previously ran for Congress in 2012 in the newly drawn CD9. He placed fourth in the Republican primary2. Vernon Parker won but lost to then-Democrat Kyrsten Sinema.
Polling conducted in late February by NextGenP shows that former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, though undeclared, would enter the race as the immediate frontrunner if he were to run. Lamb received nearly 50% support in a five-person ballot test, holding a 49%-4% lead over the next closest potential candidate. His name ID and net favorability (+70%) were both off the charts — and Feely was not named in the survey. Lamb had a strong showing against Lake in the U.S. Senate primary last year earning nearly 40% of the Republican vote statewide.
If Lamb ultimately stays out, the race could become a free-for-all among a diverse group of conservatives vying for the post-Biggs seat.
From NFL to the ballot?
His remarks begin around the 28 minute mark.
Other notable candidates that year? Wendy Rogers, who placed second), Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowski, who placed sixth out of seven candidates.