Another one-time Democrat has decided to back a GOP candidate for Congress, according to a Wednesday report.
Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, who left the Democratic Party in 2022 to become an independent, has been privately expressing support for Republican congressional candidate Jay Feely, according to a new report.
Sinema told business and political leaders that she voted for Feely in Arizona’s Republican primary and is considering supporting him again in November, Axios reported Tuesday, citing two people familiar with the conversations.
The former senator reportedly described Feely, a former NFL kicker, as a “commonsense” candidate and a “fiscal conservative.”
Her comments came during several informal meetings with Arizona business executives, political figures and longtime associates over the past month.
According to the report, Sinema said she had developed a personal relationship with Feely and his wife and believed he was qualified to represent the state’s 1st Congressional District.
She also expressed confidence in his ability to address Arizona’s water challenges, particularly concerns surrounding potential reductions in the state’s allocation of Colorado River water.
Sinema reportedly indicated that she was likely to vote for Feely in the November 3 general election.
The former senator has not publicly announced a formal endorsement.
#AZ01
Axios: Kyrsten Sinema quietly boosting Republican US House candidate Jay Feely
Former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) has told business and political leaders in Arizona that she chose to vote in the Republican primary — for House candidate Jay Feely, Axios has learned.
https://t.co/IqRwcjb1VT
— Politics & Poll Tracker 📡 (@PollTracker2024) October 13, 2026
Feely, who served as an NFL commentator after his retirement from the league until 2025, has already received President Donald Trump’s endorsement and is running against Democrat Amish Shah, a former Arizona state representative and emergency physician.
The candidates are competing for the seat that Republican Rep. David Schweikert is vacating as he leaves Congress to pursue the Arizona governorship.
Arizona’s 1st Congressional District includes Scottsdale and portions of the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The district has attracted considerable attention from both political parties because of its competitive voting history and the narrow Republican majority in the House.
Trump carried the district by approximately three percentage points in the 2024 presidential election, while former President Joe Biden narrowly won it four years earlier.
The Cook Political Report moved the contest from a toss-up to “Lean Democrat” in September, citing the broader political environment and conditions affecting Republican candidates.
Sinema’s reported support is particularly noteworthy because she previously represented Arizona as a Democrat in both chambers of Congress.
She was first elected to the House in 2012 and won a Senate seat in 2018, becoming the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate election in Arizona in three decades.
However, her relationship with Democratic leaders deteriorated during Biden’s administration.
Sinema frequently broke with her party on major legislative priorities, including proposals to change Senate filibuster rules, expand voting rights protections and increase certain taxes.
She also opposed elements of Biden’s economic agenda, arguing that fiscal restraint and bipartisan negotiations were necessary to produce sustainable legislation.
Her positions drew criticism from left-wing Democrats, who accused her of obstructing the party’s priorities.
In December 2022, Sinema announced that she was leaving the Democratic Party and registering as an independent.
She continued caucusing with Senate Democrats but increasingly emphasized her willingness to work across party lines.
Sinema ultimately declined to seek reelection in 2024, leaving the Senate when her term expired in January 2025. Then-House Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego subsequently won the seat.
Since leaving office, Sinema has remained involved in Arizona political and business circles, including discussions surrounding economic development, infrastructure and energy policy.
Her reported support for Feely comes as the Republican candidate seeks to appeal to independent voters and moderate Democrats in a district where neither party can rely exclusively on its traditional base.
Feely has emphasized border security, lower taxes, reduced government regulation and economic growth during his campaign.
The former professional football player spent 14 seasons in the NFL, including stints with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, before becoming a television sports analyst.
Shah has focused his campaign on healthcare affordability, economic concerns and protecting federal entitlement programs.
With Election Day approaching, Sinema’s reported support places the former Democratic senator and Trump on the same side of a closely watched congressional contest.
Neither Sinema nor Feely had publicly commented on the Axios report as of Wednesday.
This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
