Three candidates debate in a fight to be congressional delegate for CD4

By Madeline Bates
Mail

Three candidates took the stage Monday night in the debate for the 4th Congressional District, with  Democratic incumbent Greg Stanton squaring up against Republican candidate Dr. Zuhdi Jasser and No Labels candidate Tisha Benoit on Oct. 5.

Jasser and Stanton took frequent stabs at one another during the Clean Elections Commission debate, discussing President Donald Trump, socialism, and tariffs and how they’ve impacted Arizona residents. Jasser called Stanton a “D.C. Creature” who failed to denounce socialism and was “printing money” that contributed to a troubled economy.

Benoit stayed out of the fire by playing to her agreements of both parties and candidates.

“We need fighters in Congress, not someone who’s going to be a sycophant to Trump,” Stanton said.

Benoit, the No Labels candidate, is a business owner and a doctor of Chinese Medicine. She said during the debate she agreed with the ideas of both Stanton and Jasser, but that she wanted Washington to hear an independent voice.

“I’ve been knocking on thousands of doors, and everybody wants to just bring it back to common sense into a moderate government, no extremes on the right or the left,” Benoit said to the press.

Benoit later told the press she supported Donald Trump in both 2020 and 2024 after admiring his financial processes and ideas. She referred to herself as “fiscally conservative but socially liberal,” and said that was one of the many reasons she felt she couldn’t align with either party.

Jasser, a cardiologist, is the child of Syrian immigrants and the president and founder of American Islamic Forum for Democracy, a Muslim lobbying group that advocates for the separation of religion and state.

Jasser said he is willing to go against the Republican Party in the same way he has gone against his faith in doing the right thing.

Jasser brought up Stanton’s failure to denounce socialism several times, including after the debate during media questions.

He called Stanton “spineless” and an “empty suit” because of a vote from an Aug. 27 resolution from Colorado Republican Jeff Crank that stated that “the DSA’s ideology and socialism, in any form, are incompatible with American values and the United States Constitution,” among other statements against socialism.

Republican Eli Crane from Arizona’s second district co-sponsored the resolution.

Stanton did not comment on whether or not he denounces socialism, but did say that Jasser’s attack was a “strange argument.” 

In the primary election in July, Democratic Socialist Kai Newkirk criticized Stanton for accepting funds from the American Israel PAC, or AIPAC, and not standing up to actions from the Trump administration, arguing the district needed a candidate who was more disconnected from the Republican Party and didn’t work across party lines. 

“I think in modern politics working across the aisle is not a weakness; it’s a strength,” Stanton said. “But it’s how you govern effectively, and that fundamental hasn’t changed.”

Stanton has been a Congressional Representative for eight years. He and most others in the Arizona delegation to Congress accept money from AIPAC — something some progressives criticize following the battle between Israel and Palestine in recent years.

Arizona residents in Tempe, Chandler, Ahwatukee and west Mesa will be able to vote for their preferred candidate beginning Oct. 7 with early voting. Election Day is Nov. 3 and the elected candidate will be sworn in to the position in January at the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C.

To voice your opinion on this story, connect with us at AzOpinions@iniusa.org.

Madeline Bates
Reporter | Tempe/East Phoenix

mbates@iniusa.org

Meet Madeline

Madeline Bates joined Independent Newsmedia in 2025 as a Phoenix/Tempe reporter. Before graduating college, she spent a semester in Washington as a Congressional reporter in the first 100 days of the second Trump administration. But local news is where her heart is. She is excited to be in Phoenix full time and exploring new parts of the city (as long as they have AC).  

Community: After living in East Phoenix for two years, she fell in love with Paradise Valley, Mesa, Tempe, and everywhere in between. She recently discovered the beauty of the South Mountain Reserve and hopes to continue exploring should the weather comply.

Education: Madeline has a degree in Journalism and Mass Communications from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and a certificate in Political History and Leadership.

Random Fact: She is a self-taught nail tech. No, she cannot do your nails.

Hobbies: Hiking (when its not 100 degrees), fiction writing, cooking, baking and trying new coffee shops.