Gosar, Democrat to battle in general election for CD9

By Jason Stone
Mail | X: @thestonecave

Paul Gosar has been in Congress since 2010 and is now vying for his ninth term in Washington, D.C.

Considering the heavy Republican population in the 9th Congressional District, which covers a vast majority of western Arizona and a portion of Surprise, Gosar is hoping to not have to sweat out another election.

Gosar earned nearly two-thirds of the vote over Democrat Quacy Smith in the 2024 election after running unopposed in the primary. He also had no opponent for the 2022 general election.

Democrat Dani Sterbinsky is hoping to make a dent into Gosar’s political dominance of the area.

Neither one has a primary opponent, meaning this race will be settled in the general election in November.

Here is a quick look at each candidate:

Republican — Paul Gosar

If he wins the reelection, Gosar will be the longest serving current member of Congress from Arizona.

He is known as one of the most fiscally and socially conservative members of Congress, but has also peddled in conspiracy theories, making him divisive among some.

He was censured in 2021 for posting an anime video on social media depicting himself committing violence against Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and then-President Joe Biden. He was reinstated a year later, however, when Republicans regained a majority in Congress.

Gosar grew up in Wyoming and is a former dentist. He was the Arizona Dental Association’s Dentist of the Year in 2001 and was inducted into the AzDA Hall of Fame.

Democrat — Dani Sterbinsky

Sterbinsky, a 34-year-old from Wittmann, is an academic counselor at Grand Canyon University, a Navy veteran and grassroots worker within the Democratic party.

She has served on the Surprise Personnel Appeals Board and works with local Democratic clubs and grassroots efforts.

Sterbinsky said she feels the biggest issue facing the district is affordability, adding families across the district are being squeezed by the cost of housing, groceries, healthcare and utilities. Sterbinsky calls them “everyday issues.”

Jason Stone can be reached at jstone@iniusa.org. Submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.

Jason Stone
Senior News Editor | Surprise

jstone@iniusa.com

Meet Jason
Jason Stone joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2019, after a distinguished three decade media career that included stops at the Arizona Republic, iHeart Media/Clear Channel and Beckett Sports Card magazine. He remembers when airports sold newspapers.

Community: He is a big supporter of the Valley's original sports team: The Phoenix Suns.

Education: Northern Arizona University with a BS in broadcast journalism and a minor in sports coaching.

Random Fact: The capital of Nebraska is Lincoln.

Hobbies: Surfing, backgammon and men who aren't afraid to cry.