2026 Midterms · U.S. House · Arizona Safe
Arizona — 9th District
Democratic
Danielle Sterbinsky
Republican
Paul Gosar
Incumbent
Incumbent Republican Representative Paul Gosar faces Democratic challenger Danielle Sterbinsky in the general election for Arizona's 9th Congressional District on November 3, 2026. Major race forecasters, including The Cook Political Report, DDHQ/The Hill, Inside Elections, and Sabato's Crystal Ball, rate the district as Solid or Safe Republican. The matchup hinges on whether voters in the district prefer Gosar's long-standing conservative legislative record on border security, tax cuts, and energy independence or Sterbinsky's populist platform focused on healthcare costs, middle-class economic relief, and congressional term limits.
Economy and Cost of Living
high salienceSterbinsky advocates for direct public investments in childcare, housing, and small business support, whereas Gosar seeks to lower costs by cutting federal spending, reducing taxes, and rolling back regulations.
Danielle Sterbinsky
Supports middle-class relief and small businesses
Sterbinsky focuses on easing the burden on working families by lowering everyday costs and supporting local economic growth. She advocates for affordable childcare, fair pay, portable benefits for gig workers, and targeted support for small businesses in rural areas.
- Support small businesses and local entrepreneurs to create rural jobs
- Make childcare affordable to allow parents to work or train
- Protect gig and independent workers with portable benefits and fair policies
- Prevent corporate speculation and giveaways that undermine local communities
“I’ll fight for small businesses and support companies that commit to creating jobs and opportunities in our rural communities.”
Paul Gosar
Supports tax cuts and spending reductions
Gosar blames current economic challenges and inflation on excessive federal spending and regulations. He advocates for cutting government waste, lowering taxes, and balancing the federal budget to stimulate private-sector job growth.
- Signed Americans for Tax Reform Taxpayer Protection Pledge
- Supports a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
- Promotes deregulation and lower tax rates to ignite business expansion
- Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 to curb federal spending
“Arizona families are struggling under the weight of high inflation and rising costs from Biden era bad policies. It’s time to cut wasteful government spending and deliver real relief so families can afford the basics again.”
Healthcare
high salienceSterbinsky advocates for government intervention through a public option and price controls on drugs, while Gosar favors free-market healthcare reforms to drive down consumer costs.
Danielle Sterbinsky
Supports lowering costs and public option
Sterbinsky prioritizes making healthcare and prescription drugs affordable so families do not face financial ruin from medical bills. She advocates for a public health insurance option, expanding mental health services, and strengthening rural clinics.
- Lower prescription drug costs, highlighting residents forced to buy insulin/cancer meds abroad
- Establish a public insurance option to increase affordable coverage choices
- Expand mental health services, preventive care, and rural telehealth access
- Cut waste and administrative middlemen that drive up healthcare costs
“These are hardworking Arizonans who should never have to look outside our country just to afford the medicine they need. Stories like these are why I’m committed to lowering prescription drug costs and making healthcare affordable at home”
Paul Gosar
Supports free-market healthcare reforms
Gosar advocates for free-market solutions to reform the healthcare system. As a former healthcare provider and member of the House Doctors Caucus, he supports market-based measures to increase healthcare choices and lower consumer costs.
- Member of the House Doctors Caucus promoting free-market healthcare reforms
- Focuses on increasing consumer choice and access through market competition
“Gosar has led the charge in the House to reform the health care system and put forth free market solutions to increase access and decrease costs to the consumer.”
Government Accountability and Reform
medium salienceSterbinsky advocates for structural reforms like congressional term limits and campaign finance limits, whereas Gosar focuses on banning congressional stock trading and cutting government waste.
Danielle Sterbinsky
Supports term limits and ethics reform
Sterbinsky emphasizes restoring trust in government by eliminating special-interest influence and establishing congressional term limits. She advocates for fact-driven oversight and getting big money out of politics.
- Signed the pledge supporting congressional term limits
- Advocates getting big money out of politics to curb special interests
- Pledges to use House revenue and investigative powers for transparent government oversight
“I believe term limits are essential for accountability in Congress. No one should make a career out of holding onto power.”
Paul Gosar
Supports stock trading bans and fiscal oversight
Gosar emphasizes legislative accountability through eliminating government waste and curbing insider advantages. He supports banning members of Congress from trading individual stocks during their term in office.
- Voted to ban Members of Congress from trading individual stocks while in office
- Passed 79 House amendments focused on eliminating government waste, fraud, and abuse
- Member of the House Freedom Caucus pushing for leadership accountability
“I voted to ban Members of Congress from trading individual stocks while in office. Politicians should serve the people, not use insider information to get richer.”
Energy, Water, and Natural Resources
medium salienceBoth candidates prioritize protecting Arizona's water resources, but Gosar specifically links environmental policy to aggressive domestic mineral and energy production on public lands.
Danielle Sterbinsky
Supports protecting water and community resources
Sterbinsky emphasizes protecting local natural resources and rural communities. Her platform focuses on securing water supplies necessary for families and agriculture in Arizona's 9th District.
- Protect regional water resources supporting families and local agriculture
- Partner with Native communities with respect for tribal sovereignty
“Protect water resources that support families and agriculture”
Paul Gosar
Supports energy independence and water funding
Gosar champions full national energy independence and opening federal public lands for agriculture and mineral development. He active pushes for emergency federal funding to secure Arizona's Colorado River water supply.
- Pushes for emergency federal funding for the Colorado River water levels
- Advocates opening federal lands in Arizona for resource development and agriculture
- Former Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus and Subcommittee on Minerals and Energy
- Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to expand domestic energy and mineral production
“I’m fighting hard to protect Arizona’s water. Emergency funding for the Colorado River is essential for our farms, communities, and future.”
Education and Job Training
medium salienceSterbinsky focuses on increasing federal funding, teacher pay, and vocational training in public schools, while Gosar's documented education record centers on federal athletic eligibility restrictions based on biological sex.
Danielle Sterbinsky
Supports public school funding and trade training
Sterbinsky views public education as the primary engine for economic mobility and family stability. She advocates for full funding for public schools, higher teacher salaries, and expanded trade apprenticeships.
- Fully fund public schools and reduce class sizes
- Increase teacher pay and classroom support
- Expand apprenticeships, trades, and vocational workforce training linked to local jobs
- Ensure rural schools receive equitable resource allocation
“Arizona’s kids deserve fully funded schools, smaller class sizes, and modern classrooms that prepare them for the future.”
Paul Gosar
Supports single-sex sports restrictions
Gosar's documented position on education policies includes supporting federal legislation that restricts school athletic programs based on biological sex.
- Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28) to restrict school athletic participation by biological sex
Elections and Voting Administration
low salienceSterbinsky advocates expanding voting access through automatic registration and mail-in voting alongside paper audit trails, while Gosar favors stricter federal voter eligibility checks like mandatory citizenship documentation.
Danielle Sterbinsky
Supports expanding access and security measures
Sterbinsky supports federal standards that expand access to the ballot while maintaining vote security. She advocates for paper ballot requirements, protected election workers, automatic voter registration, and mail-in options.
- Mandate paper ballots and transparent post-election audits nationwide
- Provide statutory protections for election workers
- Expand voting access through automatic registration, secure early voting, and mail-in ballots
“I would support legislation to strengthen election security and access by requiring paper ballots, transparent audits, and protecting election workers.”
Paul Gosar
Supports documentary proof of citizenship for voting
Gosar focuses on election integrity by restricting voter registration to confirmed citizens. He voted for federal legislation requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections.
- Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering for federal elections
- Voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election results for Arizona and Pennsylvania on January 6-7, 2021
Immigration and Border Security
high salienceGosar advocates for strict border enforcement, physical wall construction, and expanded deportation mandates, while Sterbinsky has no documented position in the provided sources.
Paul Gosar
Supports strict enforcement and border wall
Gosar views border security as a vital national security priority and strongly supports physical border barriers and strict enforcement. He consistently votes for legislation to deport unauthorized immigrants convicted of crimes and restrict entry.
- Supports construction of the southern border wall
- Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring detention of unauthorized immigrants arrested for burglary or theft
- Voted for H.R. 875 to make driving while impaired grounds for deportation
- Received an A+ rating from NumbersUSA and 100% rating from FAIR
“I support President Trump’s border wall and have worked with the Trump Administration to finally address the threats posed by our porous borders.”
Housing Affordability
medium salienceSterbinsky details a multi-pronged housing plan to curb corporate speculation and assist buyers, while Gosar has no documented position in the provided sources.
Danielle Sterbinsky
Supports housing assistance and starter home construction
Sterbinsky views stable housing as essential to overall economic security. She proposes federal assistance for first-time buyers, expanded workforce and senior housing construction, and restrictions on corporate investment firms buying up local residential properties.
- Provide down payment and ownership assistance for first-time and first-generation buyers
- Provide targeted rental assistance to prevent family and senior displacement
- Expand starter, workforce, and senior housing construction
- Stop corporate speculation that inflates local residential real estate prices
“When rent jumps or home prices skyrocket, everything else falls apart — savings, childcare, retirement, peace of mind.”
Second Amendment
medium salienceGosar opposes all gun control legislation and national firearm registries under an absolute view of the Second Amendment, whereas Sterbinsky has no documented position in the sources.
Paul Gosar
Supports absolute gun rights
Gosar views gun ownership rights under the Second Amendment as absolute and unalterable. He strongly opposes firearm registries and federal gun control legislation.
- Opposes national gun registries and gun control legislation
- Earned career 'A' voting ratings from the National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners of America (GOA)
“Our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms is absolute and I oppose efforts to create a national gun registry and other anti-gun legislation that erodes our gun rights.”
Social Security
low salienceGosar advocates for eliminating all taxes and pension offsets on Social Security benefits, while Sterbinsky has no documented position in the provided sources.
Paul Gosar
Supports eliminating taxes and offsets on benefits
Gosar focuses on maximizing benefit payouts to senior citizens and public service retirees. He champions legislative measures to remove taxation on Social Security income and eliminate benefit offsets.