--- title: "Sterbinsky vs. Gosar: 2026 Arizona’s 9th District race" url: "https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-az-09" updated: "2026-08-01" source: "Candidates' campaign sites and Ballotpedia, quoted verbatim" publisher: "Pluribus" --- # 2026 Arizona’s 9th District race: Danielle Sterbinsky (D) vs. Paul Gosar (R) Rating: Safe R · Election: November 3, 2026 · Ballot checked: October 9, 2026 · Positions captured: August 1, 2026 Incumbent Republican Representative Paul Gosar faces Democratic challenger Danielle Sterbinsky in the general election for Arizona's 9th Congressional District on November 3, 2026. 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. ## Candidates - **Danielle Sterbinsky** (Democrat) · [Campaign site](https://www.sterbinskyforcongress.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Danielle_Sterbinsky) - **Paul Gosar** (Republican, incumbent) · [Campaign site](https://drpaulgosar.com) · [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_Gosar) ## Issues ### Economy and Cost of Living Salience: high Sterbinsky 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.” > — Danielle Sterbinsky, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Danielle_Sterbinsky) **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.” > — Paul Gosar, via [Campaign site](https://drpaulgosar.com) ### Healthcare Salience: high Sterbinsky 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” > — Danielle Sterbinsky, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Danielle_Sterbinsky) **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.” > — Paul Gosar, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Paul_Gosar) ### Government Accountability and Reform Salience: medium Sterbinsky 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.” > — Danielle Sterbinsky, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Danielle_Sterbinsky) **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.” > — Paul Gosar, via [Campaign site](https://drpaulgosar.com) ### Energy, Water, and Natural Resources Salience: medium Both 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” > — Danielle Sterbinsky, via [Campaign site](https://www.sterbinskyforcongress.com) **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.” > — Paul Gosar, via [Campaign site](https://drpaulgosar.com) ### Education and Job Training Salience: medium Sterbinsky 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.” > — Danielle Sterbinsky, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Danielle_Sterbinsky) **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 Salience: low Sterbinsky 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.” > — Danielle Sterbinsky, via [Ballotpedia](https://ballotpedia.org/Danielle_Sterbinsky) **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 Salience: high Gosar advocates for strict border enforcement, physical wall construction, and expanded deportation mandates, while Sterbinsky has no documented position in the provided sources. **Danielle Sterbinsky:** No documented position in our 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.” > — Paul Gosar, via [Campaign site](https://drpaulgosar.com) ### Housing Affordability Salience: medium Sterbinsky 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.” > — Danielle Sterbinsky, via [Campaign site](https://www.sterbinskyforcongress.com) **Paul Gosar:** No documented position in our sources ### Second Amendment Salience: medium Gosar 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. **Danielle Sterbinsky:** No documented position in our 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.” > — Paul Gosar, via [Campaign site](https://drpaulgosar.com) ### Social Security Salience: low Gosar advocates for eliminating all taxes and pension offsets on Social Security benefits, while Sterbinsky has no documented position in the provided sources. **Danielle Sterbinsky:** No documented position in our 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. - Eliminate federal taxes on Social Security benefits - Eliminate offsets from government pensions for police, firefighters, and teachers - Eliminate offsets from outside income so beneficiaries can collect full benefits while working > “Eliminate all taxes on Social Security Benefits” > — Paul Gosar, via [Campaign site](https://drpaulgosar.com) ## Polls and markets _Updated Oct 31._ - [Polymarket](https://polymarket.com/event/az-09-house-election-winner) — AZ-09 House Election Winner: Republicans 97.2%, Democrats 2.7% - [Kalshi](https://kalshi.com/events/KXHOUSERACE-AZ09-26) — AZ-09 House winner?: Paul Gosar 96.5%, Danielle Sterbinsky 3.0% [View this race on 2026election.com](https://www.2026election.com/race/2026-house-az-09)