Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is set to lose his bid for a Congressional seat in Arizona – to his former sideline doctor with the New York Jets.
In one of the more remarkable races of these midterm elections, Feely ran for the Republicans against Democratic rival Amish Shah in Arizona’s 1st District.
Feely spent more than a decade in the NFL, playing for teams including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals.
During his two years with the Jets, the 50-year-old was treated by Shah, who served as a sideline doctor for the Jets for five seasons.
The race was billed by some as ‘the doc versus the jock’ and, by Tuesday morning, Shah stood on the brink of victory.
At the time of writing, with 85 percent of votes reported, the Democrat (52.57 percent) led by more than seven points over his Republican rival (45.38 percent).
Former NFL kicker Jay Feely is set to lose his bid for a Congressional seat in Arizona
Feely’s former sideline doctor with the New York Jets, Amish Shah, is set to win the race
That is despite President Trump giving Feely his ‘Complete and Total Endorsement’ on election day.
‘It is my Great Honor to endorse America First Patriot, Jay Feely,’ Trump wrote on social media. ‘He is a TOTAL WINNER, on and off the field!
The president told voters that ‘Jay’s career was “loaded up” with Accolades and WINS’ and that he ‘WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!’
Trump also branded Shah ‘Reckless, Radical, and Dangerous,’ insisting the doctor is ‘a Radical Left Democrat.’
The president warned: ‘He wants massive Tax Increases, Open Borders, Men playing in Women’s Sports, and Transgender Mutilization [sic] of your Children.’
Elsewhere, New York Yankees legend Mark Teixeira provided one of the few positive results for the Republicans on a brutal night in the midterms as he won election to the US House in Texas’ 21st Congressional District.
Teixeira, a 2009 World Series winner with the Yankees, poured $2.5 million of his own MLB fortune into his bid to replace Chip Roy in Congress.
The Texas Tribune reported in February he had raised more cash than any other candidate after loaning millions to his campaign and pulling in an extra $545,000 from donors before earning the endorsements of Trump and Governor Greg Abbott to be the Republican candidate.
Shah served as a sideline doctor for the Jets for five seasons, including while Feely was there
Feely played for teams including the Atlanta Falcons, New Yok Giants and New York Jets
And on a night that saw Abbott taken down by Democrat Gina Hinojosa in a stunning result, Teixeira at least earned his spot to replace Roy by beating Democratic candidate Kristin Hook.
Teixeira was always favorite to win the Republican stronghold, which has been held by Rep. Roy since 2019 before he chose not to seek a fifth term in order to try and become Texas Attorney General.
And despite the ‘blue tsunami’ which saw Abbott lose his position as Governor and Ken Paxton concede defeat to James Talarico in the Texas U.S. Senate race, projections for Teixeira’s victory proved correct.
