AZ-01 Debate Fallout: Out of Touch Jay Feely Will Raise Costs on Arizonans
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PHOENIX — Last night’s debate in Arizona’s First Congressional District, hosted by the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, made the stakes of November’s midterms clearer than ever. Candidates Jay Feely (R) and Amish Shah (D) debated the top issues voters care about the most, but Feely’s answers left out key parts of his record.
During the debate, Feely praised the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), which repealed federal clean energy investments and, along with other federal Republican energy policies, is projected to cost Arizonans an average of $730 per household in 2035. Trump and Republicans’ attacks on clean energy have already jeopardized at least nine clean energy projects and 9,000 jobs in Arizona. Feely also supports Trump’s war in Iran that has driven up gas prices by 40% in the state.
On AI data centers, Feely repeatedly praised the data center industry, while failing to address Arizonans’ concerns about developments driving energy costs and using up Arizona’s already-stressed water resources. He has even told Arizonans they “don’t have a choice” about data centers, as Arizona Public Service warns it lacks the infrastructure to power them and households already pay 17% more for electricity than data centers and other commercial users do. Meanwhile, a pro-AI super PAC linked to OpenAI has committed $600,000 to Feely’s campaign.
Climate Power Arizona State Director Diali Avila issued the following statement:
“Last night, Jay Feely reminded Arizonans that he will be another rubber stamp for Trump’s wars, his attacks on the clean energy we need to keep utility bills down, and his data center cheerleading. Throughout the debate, Feely praised Trump and Republicans’ policies that have led to thousands of Arizona clean energy jobs being at risk, soaring gas prices, and leaving communities to pay for data centers. Arizonans deserve a representative they can trust to lower their costs, not one who will rubber-stamp Trump’s agenda every step of the way.”
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