Paul Gosar

Paul Gosar
Born	Paul Anthony Gosar 27 11, 1958
Birthplace	Rock Springs, Wyoming, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former dentist
Known for	U.S. Representative for Arizona; 2021 House censure
Education	Creighton University (BS, DDS)
Children	3
Website	[[gosar.house.gov gosar.house.gov] Official site]

Paul Anthony Gosar (born November 27, 1958) is an American politician and former dentist who has served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Arizona since January 2011. A member of the Republican Party, Gosar has represented Arizona's 9th congressional district since 2023, having previously represented the state's 4th district (2013–2023) and 1st district (2011–2013). First elected in 2010, Gosar transitioned from a career in dentistry to public office and has since become one of the more prominent voices on the right flank of the House Republican caucus. He has drawn attention and controversy for his opposition to the Affordable Care Act, his stance against immigration, his vote to challenge the certification of the 2020 presidential election, and his associations with far-right figures and organizations. In November 2021, Gosar became one of a small number of members in the history of the House of Representatives to be formally censured, after he posted an animated video on social media depicting violence against a fellow member of Congress and the president. As of 2026, Gosar continues to serve in Congress, where he has been involved in matters related to immigration enforcement, natural resources, and oversight of federal agencies.

Early Life

Paul Anthony Gosar was born on November 27, 1958, in Rock Springs, Wyoming. He grew up in a large family in Wyoming. His brother, Pete Gosar, has also been a public figure. Details regarding his parents and upbringing in Rock Springs are limited in available sources, though Gosar has spoken publicly about his roots in the western United States and his family's background.

Rock Springs, located in Sweetwater County in southwestern Wyoming, is a small city historically associated with mining and energy industries. Gosar's upbringing in this rural, western environment has been cited as influential in shaping his political views, particularly on issues related to land use, natural resources, and federal government involvement in western states.

Gosar would later relocate to Arizona, where he established a dental practice and eventually entered politics. His move from Wyoming to Arizona placed him in a rapidly growing Sun Belt state that has become a significant battleground in national politics.

Education

Gosar attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, a private Jesuit institution where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his education at Creighton, obtaining a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the university's School of Dentistry. Creighton University is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the United States. Gosar's dental education provided him with the professional credentials to practice dentistry in Arizona for over two decades before entering political life.

Career

Dentistry

Before entering politics, Gosar practiced dentistry in Flagstaff, Arizona, for approximately 25 years. He was active in organized dentistry and held leadership roles within the profession. His career as a dentist formed the basis of his initial public profile and provided him with name recognition in northern Arizona that contributed to his first congressional campaign. Gosar has frequently referenced his dental background in political contexts, particularly in discussions about healthcare policy and the Affordable Care Act.

Entry into Politics and 2010 Election

Gosar entered electoral politics in 2010, running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Arizona's 1st congressional district. He defeated incumbent Democratic Representative Ann Kirkpatrick in the general election, part of a broader Republican wave in the 2010 midterm elections that saw the party gain 63 seats in the House. Gosar's campaign focused on opposition to the Affordable Care Act, government spending, and federal overreach—themes that resonated with the Tea Party movement that was influential in Republican politics at the time.

Congressional Service

Gosar took office on January 3, 2011, representing Arizona's 1st congressional district. Following redistricting after the 2010 census, he chose to run in the newly drawn 4th congressional district, which encompassed much of rural western and central Arizona. He won election in the 4th district in 2012 and continued to represent it through the 2022 election cycle. After further redistricting based on the 2020 census, the district was renumbered as the 9th congressional district, which Gosar has represented since January 2023.

Throughout his tenure in Congress, Gosar has positioned himself on the right wing of the Republican caucus. He has been a consistent opponent of the Affordable Care Act, abortion, gun control legislation, and immigration. He has served on committees related to natural resources and oversight, reflecting interests tied to his western Arizona constituency.

Alliance with Donald Trump and 2020 Election

Gosar has been described as a strong ally of President Donald Trump. He was among the members of Congress who voted to challenge the certification of the 2020 presidential election results on January 6, 2021. According to The New York Times, Gosar was among Republican members of Congress who had connections to the planning of events surrounding the January 6 rally that preceded the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

A 2021 New York Times investigation reported that Gosar had developed ties to far-right groups and figures, noting that he had become one of the Republican members of Congress most closely associated with extremist elements within the broader conservative movement.

Associations with Far-Right Groups and Figures

Gosar's associations with far-right organizations and individuals have been a recurring source of controversy. He has been linked to the Oath Keepers, a far-right anti-government militia group. According to reporting by ABC15, the Oath Keepers sought to recruit members in Arizona and Gosar appeared in a video used by the organization. Newsweek also reported on Gosar's connections to the Oath Keepers, noting that the group had used references to civil war in its recruitment materials.

In June 2021, The Arizona Republic reported that Gosar was linked to a fundraiser organized by Nick Fuentes, a far-right commentator and Holocaust denier who leads the America First or "Groyper" movement. According to the report, Gosar had headlined a fundraising event connected to Fuentes. New York Magazine described the relationship between Gosar and Fuentes, noting that Gosar had spoken at Fuentes's America First Political Action Conference (AFPAC), making him one of the first sitting members of Congress to directly engage with the white nationalist movement in such a public manner.

These associations drew criticism from members of both parties and were cited by Democratic lawmakers as part of the broader case for censuring Gosar later in 2021.

2021 Censure

On November 9, 2021, House Democrats moved to censure Gosar after he posted an edited anime video on his social media accounts. The video, adapted from the popular anime series Attack on Titan, featured Gosar's face superimposed onto a character who kills another character bearing the face of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacks a character with the face of President Joe Biden.

The posting drew immediate condemnation. Politico reported that Democratic leaders demanded action against Gosar, arguing that the video constituted a depiction of violence against a sitting member of Congress and the president. The Independent characterized the video as showing Gosar's character killing a character with Ocasio-Cortez's likeness and attacking one with Biden's likeness.

On November 17, 2021, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to censure Gosar on a largely party-line vote. In addition to the formal censure—a rare and severe form of congressional discipline—Gosar was stripped of his committee assignments. He was removed from the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Gosar was one of only a handful of members in the history of the House to receive a formal censure. Despite the action, he did not face expulsion and continued to serve in Congress. After Republicans regained the House majority following the 2022 midterm elections, Gosar was reinstated to committee assignments.

2023–2026: Continued Congressional Service

Following the 2022 redistricting, Gosar began representing Arizona's newly drawn 9th congressional district in January 2023. He continued to focus on issues related to immigration, border security, and oversight of federal agencies.

In early 2026, Gosar was active in oversight matters related to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In February 2026, he sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem requesting information about a proposed ICE facility in Surprise, Arizona, a suburban city in the West Valley of the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Arizona Republic reported that Gosar sought answers from the DHS chief regarding the facility's scope and impact on the local community.

According to reporting by AZ Family, the DHS responded that the ICE facility in Surprise could open by the end of summer 2026, with the agency describing it as part of an entirely new detention model being developed by the federal government. Gosar subsequently stated he was satisfied with the ICE response to his concerns about the Surprise warehouse facility, according to 12News.

Also in 2026, Gosar was among House Republicans involved in investigating environmental groups over their efforts to oppose the Willow oil and gas project in Alaska, as reported by E&E News via Politico.

In February 2026, Gosar authored an opinion piece in the Havasu News ahead of President Trump's State of the Union address, writing about border security and election integrity, themes that have been consistent throughout his congressional career. 12News reported that Gosar was among the Arizona leaders planning to attend President Trump's State of the Union address in February 2026.

Dean of Arizona's Congressional Delegation

Following the death of Representative Raúl Grijalva on March 13, 2025, Gosar and fellow Republican Representative David Schweikert became co-deans of Arizona's congressional delegation, sharing the distinction as the longest-serving members of the state's House delegation. Schweikert has announced plans to retire from Congress to run for governor in the 2026 election cycle, which would make Gosar the sole dean of the delegation beginning in 2027.

Personal Life

Gosar has three children. His brother, Pete Gosar, has been publicly involved in political matters. Gosar's family has drawn public attention, particularly after several of his siblings publicly opposed his reelection in 2018, appearing in a campaign advertisement for his Democratic opponent. The public family rift became a national news story, with siblings citing disagreements over his political positions and conduct in office.

Gosar relocated from Wyoming to Arizona, where he practiced dentistry for approximately 25 years in Flagstaff before entering politics. He has represented districts covering large portions of rural and suburban Arizona.

Recognition

Gosar's congressional career has been marked less by awards and honors than by controversy. The most notable formal action taken regarding Gosar was the November 2021 censure by the U.S. House of Representatives, which made him one of fewer than two dozen members in the chamber's history to be formally censured.

Within conservative media and political circles, Gosar has been recognized as a prominent voice on issues related to immigration restriction, opposition to the Affordable Care Act, and skepticism of federal land management policies. He has contributed opinion articles to outlets such as InsideSources and regional newspapers in Arizona.

His associations with far-right figures and organizations, including his appearance at Nick Fuentes's AFPAC conference and his connections to the Oath Keepers, have made him a frequent subject of investigative journalism and political analysis.