Paul Gosar

Early life, education and dental career

Gosar was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming in 1958, son of Antone John Gosar and Bernadette M. (née Erramouspe) Gosar. His paternal grandparents were Slovenian and his maternal grandparents were Basque immigrants from Banca, France.

He is the older brother of Pete Gosar, a former college football player at the University of Wyoming, who is a former chairman of the Wyoming Democratic Party and was a candidate for governor of Wyoming, in 2010 and 2014.

Gosar received his B.A. from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, and later, his D.D.S. from the Boyne School of Dentistry at Creighton. He owned his own dentistry practice in Flagstaff for twenty-five years. He was the Arizona Dental Association's “Dentist of the Year” in 2001, and was inducted into the ADA Hall of Fame, also serving as its president. He was also president of the Northern Arizona Dental Society and vice-chair of the ADA council on governmental affairs.

Elections

In 2009, Gosar – who had never run for elected office before – announced he would challenge Democratic incumbent Ann Kirkpatrick in the 1st district in the 2010 elections. Gosar has been identified as a Tea Party candidate by The New York Times because the Arizona Tea Party features Gosar on its website. Libertarian nominee Nicole Patti was also on the ballot.

Gosar won the Republican primary. He was endorsed by Sarah Palin and three Arizona county sheriffs: Maricopa County sheriff, Joe Arpaio, Coconino County sheriff, Joe Richards, and Pinal County sheriff, Paul Babeu. Kirkpatrick challenged him to five debates across the district. Gosar initially agreed to one debate but later withdrew. Gosar released a statement explaining the decision to withdraw from the debate was based on the long drive to and from KAET in Phoenix, which organized the debate. A producer at KAET said Gosar's staff told the station the candidate could not participate in the debate because he would be attending a fundraiser instead.

Gosar defeated Kirkpatrick in the November 2, 2010, general election, taking 49.7 percent of the vote.

Following changes made in redistricting, Gosar was going to seek re-election in the 1st district, which was made less favorable to Republicans. However, with Kirkpatrick priming for a rematch, Gosar changed his mind and announced in January 2012 he would run in the newly created 4th district, which is heavily Republican. As part of the move, he bought a second home in Prescott, which he claimed as his official residence.

Gosar initially faced a tough primary fight against Babeu. However, Babeu pulled out in May 2012 due to allegations of abuse of power. Gosar defeated former state senator Ron Gould and businessman Rick Murphy in the Republican primary, all but assuring him of a second term. In the November general election, he defeated Democratic challenger Johnnie Robinson, with 67 percent of the vote.

Abortion

Paul Gosar describes himself as pro-life. On abortions, Gosar states, “These procedures undeniably rob the world of a human life in a most cruel fashion... The right thing to do is to ban these procedures.” These beliefs are reflected in his voting record. Gosar cosponsored the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act, a bill that would make permanent restrictions on federal funding of abortions in the US. Gosar also cosponsored the District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, an act placing restrictions on abortions in the District of Columbia. Gosar was given a 100% rating by the National Right to Life Committee, a pro-life interest group, and a 0% rating by NARAL (National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League), a pro-choice interest group.

Gun rights

Gosar has stated that the “Second Amendment is one of the most important rights set forth by the Bill of Rights” and has stated he will “continue to oppose efforts to restrict, infringe, or remove this constitutionally protected right.” Gosar cosponsored the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2011, a bill that would allow noncitizens of a state to, with concealed carry permits, carry concealed weapons in that state. Gosar also sponsored the “Amendment to Restore 2nd Amendment Rights on Army Corps of Engineers Administered Recreational Lands”, which would allow citizens to carry weapons on land administered by the Army Corps of Engineers. Gosar was endorsed by the NRA (National Rifle Association) and given a rating of 92%. He was also endorsed by Gun Owners of America, and given a rating of 75%.

Immigration

Regarding immigration, Gosar has stated, "I strongly believe we need to immediately secure our border and oppose amnesty for anyone who blatantly violates our law." He has cosponsored multiple bills that would impose regulations on immigration. For example, Gosar cosponsored the Birthright Citizenship Act of 2011, a bill that would eliminate birthright citizenship for children born in the US to undocumented immigrants.

He cosponsored the Keeping the Pledge on Immigration Act of 2011, a bill that would increase border security. He was given an “A” rating by NumbersUSA, an organization in support of immigration reduction.

Native Americans

In December 2014, Gosar drew controversy when he referred to American Indians as "wards of the federal government". He was responding to concerns from members of the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in eastern Arizona when he made the comment that stunned people at the round-table talk in Flagstaff, Arizona. The topic had addressed the proposal to swap 2,400 acres of southeastern Arizona's Tonto National Forest for about 5,300 acres of environmentally sensitive land. The proposal, which was attached as a rider to the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act, would give land sacred to the Apache in Arizona to Resolution Copper Mine, a joint venture owned by Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton. Troy Eid, a Republican and former U.S. Attorney in Colorado, responded to Gosar's comments and said: "In the heated context of what this represents, it's especially inappropriate to be resorting to what amounts to race baiting." A Gosar spokesperson said his comments were misconstrued.

Environment

In 2015, Gosar scored 3% on the National Environmental Scorecard of the League of Conservation Voters. On January 30, 2017 Gosar introduced House Joint resolution 46 which would repeal the authority of the National Park Service to decline private drilling for oil, gas and minerals in 40 U. S. National Parks if the Park Service determines that the mining operation would threatened the environmental. The Washington Post said Gosar was "no friend of environmentalists."

Finance

In 2010 Gosar signed a pledge sponsored by Americans for Prosperity promising to vote against any Global Warming legislation that would raise taxes.

Attempt to Impeach EPA Administrator

On September 11, 2015, Gosar announced that he had filed articles of impeachment against EPA administrator Gina McCarthy for "high crimes and misdemeanors:", claiming that she had "lied to the American people in order to force misguided and overreaching regulations, which have no scientific basis, down our throats.". An EPA spokeswoman said Gosar's resolution "has zero merit and is nothing more than political theater" while fellow Republican and House majority leader, Kevin McCarthy confirmed that “There’s no plan to impeach Gina McCarthy."

Boycott of Pope Francis

On September 17, 2015, in an op-ed on the conservative website Townhall.com, Gosar announced that he would not attend Pope Francis' planned address to Congress, unless the Pope spoke about issues such as "violent Islam" or Planned Parenthood, instead of global warming. While he stated that he remains proud to be a Catholic and to have attended a Jesuit university, where he learned to "think critically [and] welcome debate and discussion," nonetheless, he would treat the Pope the same way he believes "leftist politicians" should be treated.

Fearing the possibility the Pope would discuss climate change, he said "I will not attend." According to Gosar, Pope Francis had “adopted all of the socialist talking points, wrapped false science and ideology into ‘climate justice’ and is being presented to guilt people into leftist policies,” and Laudato si', Francis's encyclical on the environment, had been "written with the consultation of that great seminary the EPA and its embattled head Gina McCarthy." Gosar did not attend Pope Francis's September 24 address, the only member of Congress to do so; the gesture generated comment on television and the Internet.

Shortly after the Pope's visit, Gosar sent out a fundraising email that focused on his recent action. The message repeated, four times, the Townhall op-ed's catchphrase, "When the Pope chooses to act and talk like a leftist politician, then he can expect to be treated like one." Citing criticism from Stephen Colbert, an article in Salon.com, and an unnamed website, the message positioned Gosar as the victim of "unprecedented attacks" from "the liberals, the left-wing media and the Obama political machine": "I chose not to attend the speech of Pope Francis. And then 'all hell broke loose.' Will you support me by giving $15 to my campaign today? Will you help me fend off the liberal sharks who are out for my blood?" Phoenix news station Fox 10 wrote, "The whole thing was part of Gosar's latest fundraising pitch."

Committee assignments

Caucus memberships

Gosar is a member of several caucuses.