Republican Jay Feely and Democrat Amish Shah found common ground on Arizona’s water priorities during a Wednesday debate in the state’s 1st Congressional District, while sharply disagreeing over whether data centers belong in the district. Feely, a former NFL kicker endorsed by President Donald Trump, said he disagrees with the administration’s approach to Colorado River reductions. If cuts are required, he argued, states in both the upper and lower river basins should share them equally rather than placing most of the burden on Arizona. Shah, an emergency physician and former state lawmaker, said water would be his top priority in Congress. “Fight like hell for every drop,” he told voters at the Arizona Clean Elections debate. The stakes are significant for the state: the federal government has ordered Arizona to reduce its Colorado River use by 760,000 acre-feet annually in 2027 and 2028, the largest reduction assigned to any state, according to the debate coverage. The candidates’ agreement on water contrasted with their dispute over data centers, which use electricity and water and can bring noise and traffic to nearby communities. Shah said constituents have told him they do not want the facilities in the district. He acknowledged that artificial intelligence is increasing demand for data centers but said he did not want them in CD1. Feely called Shah’s position “really hypocritical,” pointing to Shah’s support as a state legislator for tax breaks for data centers. Feely argued the industry contributes $27 billion to Arizona’s economy and supports high-paying jobs. An industry-funded study cited in the debate put the contribution at more than $25 billion in 2023. Shah said the circumstances had changed since his vote on the tax incentives, adding that artificial intelligence “wasn’t on the radar” at the time. The debate also touched on foreign policy and health care. Shah supported the decision to strike Iran’s nuclear program but criticized the Trump administration’s handling of the war. He also agreed with Feely that undocumented immigrants should not receive Medicaid. The general election is Nov. 3.