From Dentistry to D.C.
Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, Paul Gosar was the eldest of ten children in a Republican household. He built a career far from Washington, earning his dental degree from Creighton University in 1985 and running a successful practice in Flagstaff, Arizona, for over two decades. His professional peers recognized his leadership, naming him the Arizona Dental Association's "Dentist of the Year" in 2001. Gosar had never held elected office before he announced his candidacy for Congress in 2009. Riding the wave of the conservative Tea Party movement, which prioritized fiscal austerity and limited government, he successfully challenged incumbent Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick in 2010. His entry into politics marked a sharp turn from healthcare to the confrontational
world of national policy.
A Hard-Right Record in Congress
Once in Washington, Gosar quickly established himself on the far-right flank of the Republican Party. A strong supporter of former President Donald Trump, his legislative priorities have consistently focused on border security, federal spending cuts, and deregulation. He voted for the major 2017 tax cuts and has been a reliable vote against Democratic-led spending initiatives, including the bipartisan infrastructure bill, though he later touted funding from it for a project in his district. Gosar has served on the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, using these positions to advocate for his views on land use and government accountability. His policy stances are consistently conservative, with a voting record that reflects opposition to abortion access, a hardline stance on immigration, and skepticism of foreign entanglements.
A Magnet for Controversy
More than any specific policy, Gosar is known for a long history of controversial statements and actions. In November 2021, the House of Representatives took the rare step of censuring him and stripping him of his committee assignments. The disciplinary action came after Gosar posted an edited anime video depicting a character with his face killing a character meant to represent Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Joe Biden. Gosar defended the video as a symbolic depiction of a policy debate and said he did not espouse violence. He has also drawn significant criticism for his associations with white nationalist figures, including speaking at a conference organized by Nick Fuentes, an avowed white nationalist and Holocaust denier. Gosar was a key figure in challenging the 2020 election results, promoting false claims of fraud and, according to his siblings, helping to incite the January 6 Capitol riot.
An Unprecedented Family Feud
Perhaps the most unique aspect of Gosar's public life is the vocal opposition from his own family. Since 2018, several of his nine siblings have publicly campaigned against him. In a series of viral campaign ads, interviews, and op-eds, six of his siblings have called him unfit for office, accused him of betraying the country, and urged voters to support his opponents. They have cited his rhetoric, his role in questioning the 2020 election, and his associations with extremists as reasons for their public break. In one ad, his brother Tim called for an "intervention" at the ballot box. Jennifer Gosar, his sister, stated their endorsements of his opponents were about "decency and integrity." This ongoing family rift has provided a dramatic and personal backdrop to his political career.
