Former Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I), who abandoned the Democratic Party in 2022, is reportedly throwing her support behind a Republican congressional candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump, marking an unusual political development ahead of the November midterm elections.
Sinema has privately expressed support for Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker running as a Republican in Arizona’s competitive 1st Congressional District, according to a report from Axios.
The former senator reportedly told business leaders and political associates that she voted for Feely in the Republican primary and is considering supporting him again in the November 3 general election.
During several private conversations over the past month, Sinema described Feely as a “commonsense” candidate and a “fiscal conservative,” according to two individuals familiar with the discussions.
Sinema also reportedly developed a personal relationship with Feely and his wife, contributing to her favorable assessment of his candidacy.
The former senator expressed confidence in Feely’s ability to address major challenges facing Arizona, particularly the state’s ongoing concerns surrounding water availability.
Potential reductions in Arizona’s allocation of Colorado River water have emerged as a significant issue for state officials and residents.
Sinema reportedly believes Feely possesses the qualifications necessary to address those concerns while representing the district in Congress.
Although she has indicated that she is likely to vote for him in November, Sinema has not publicly issued a formal endorsement.
Feely is running against Democrat Amish Shah, a former Arizona state representative and emergency physician, for the congressional seat being vacated by Republican Rep. David Schweikert.
Schweikert is leaving Congress to pursue the Arizona governorship.
The district encompasses Scottsdale and portions of the Phoenix metropolitan area, making it an important battleground in the fight for control of the House of Representatives.
Trump carried the district by approximately three percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, while former President Joe Biden narrowly won it in 2020.
The Cook Political Report shifted the contest from a toss-up to “Lean Democrat” in September, reflecting its assessment of the political environment and conditions surrounding the race.
Sinema’s reported support is particularly noteworthy given her history with the Democratic Party.
She was elected to the House of Representatives in 2012 before winning a Senate seat in 2018, becoming the first Democrat to secure a U.S. Senate victory in Arizona in three decades.
However, her relationship with Democratic leadership deteriorated during the Biden administration as she opposed several major legislative proposals supported by her party.
Sinema resisted efforts to weaken Senate filibuster rules and expressed reservations about proposed tax increases and elements of Biden’s economic agenda.
Her positions generated criticism from progressive Democrats, who argued that she was obstructing key Democratic priorities.
In December 2022, Sinema announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party to become an independent.
She continued caucusing with Senate Democrats but increasingly emphasized bipartisan cooperation and fiscal restraint.
Sinema ultimately declined to seek reelection in 2024, and Democrat Ruben Gallego won the seat following her departure.
Since leaving the Senate in January 2025, she has remained active in Arizona’s political and business communities.
Feely, meanwhile, spent 14 seasons in the NFL before transitioning into sports broadcasting. He has emphasized border security, lower taxes, reduced government regulation and economic growth during his congressional campaign, per the Conservative Brief.
His Democratic opponent, Shah, has focused on healthcare affordability, economic issues and protecting federal entitlement programs.
Trump has already endorsed Feely, placing the president and the former Democratic senator on the same side of the congressional contest.
