Jay Feely Announces Congressional Bid to Replace Andy Biggs

Phoenix, Arizona – Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker, officially launched his campaign for Congress on Tuesday, aiming to replace outgoing Representative Andy Biggs. Biggs is stepping down to pursue the governor’s mansion in Arizona.

Feely, who has dabbled in sports commentary as a CBS Sports analyst, expressed that the assassination attempt on a presidential candidate last year served as significant motivation for his political ambitions. In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, he stated, “The lawfare that Democrats did against President Trump and you watched him get shot. That was a big moment for me. I remember starting to really think about running for office the day that he got shot.”

During his football career, Feely played for teams including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, and Chicago Bears. With his experience on the executive committee of the NFL Players Association, he believes he gained valuable negotiating skills relevant to Congress. “One of those times we had a lockout and the players were locked out by the owners. We had to negotiate,” he recalled, highlighting the similarities between sports negotiation and political discussions.

Feely emphasized that illegal immigration remains a pressing issue in Arizona, criticizing President Biden for not taking immediate action during his tenure. He remarked, “The Democrats told us that they needed a bill passed in Congress or they couldn’t fix the border. And President Biden sat by and let tens of millions of illegals come into our country.”

The Republican primary for the congressional seat also includes former House Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham and Army veteran Alex Stovall. The Cook Political Report classifies the district as solidly Republican.

Feely believes he can unite the Republican Party amid expected challenges in the upcoming elections. He stated, “One of the things from a Republican perspective is we haven’t stayed united. Democrats stay united even when they completely disagree on issues.”

With a narrow Republican majority in the House, Feely positions himself as a candidate capable of bridging divides within the party. He closed by affirming his readiness for this new challenge: “I’m certainly prepared for the job.”