Danielle Sterbinsky (D) – AZ-09 House 2026

About

Danielle "Dani" Sterbinsky is the Democratic nominee for U.S. House in Arizona's 9th District, a Navy veteran (Operations Specialist on the USS Bainbridge), certified HR professional, former academic advisor, and working mother who emphasizes principled, pragmatic leadership and people-first solutions. She won the uncontested Democratic primary on July 21, 2026, with 31,371 votes and is challenging incumbent Republican Paul Gosar in the November 3 general election, trailing significantly in campaign fundraising. Her platform focuses on affordable healthcare, housing, education tied to local jobs, rural broadband, water protection, and accountability reforms such as term limits and campaign-finance transparency.

Biography sources 5

Positions on Key Issues

Positions of Danielle Sterbinsky on key issues
Issue	Stance	Sources
Healthcare	Sterbinsky's campaign says healthcare should not feel like a financial gamble and proposes lowering prescription drug costs, expanding mental health and preventive care, strengthening rural clinics and telehealth access, cutting waste and middlemen that drive up costs, and offering a public option so families can choose affordable coverage. She has cited constituents who buy insulin and cancer medication abroad because U.S. prices are too high.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions \| Local Candidates Danielle Sterbinsky - Ballotpedia Danielle Sterbinsky on Health Insurance & Coverage
Economy	Sterbinsky says she would support small businesses and local entrepreneurs, make childcare affordable so parents can work or train, protect gig and independent workers with portable benefits, and incentivize job creation that hires locally and pays fairly. On housing, she supports tax credits for first-time homebuyers, rental assistance, expanding starter and workforce housing, and the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act, which restricts institutional investors from purchasing large numbers of single-family homes.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions \| Local Candidates Congressional candidates tackle housing, immigration \| The Center Square Danielle “Dani” Sterbinsky — BallotReady
Climate/Energy	Sterbinsky's campaign materials support protecting water resources that sustain Arizona families and agriculture, and list local clean-energy jobs, responsible resource management, and long-term water protection for Arizona communities among her priorities. A campaign-published endorsement describes her as believing in protecting the environment for future generations. The available materials do not specify emissions targets, renewable-energy mandates, fossil-fuel policy, or a detailed climate plan.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions \| Local Candidates Dani for Congress — campaign priorities Endorsers \| Sterbinsky for Congress
Immigration	Sterbinsky's campaign says she would modernize the legal process to reduce chaos and expedite legal immigration, strengthen border security, and enforce immigration law responsibly. It describes these as humane and practical solutions intended to protect families, workers, and communities.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions
Foreign Policy	Sterbinsky criticized the ongoing U.S. war with Iran, citing its human and financial costs for service members and expressing concern about declining mental health and poor living conditions aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln. She said Congress, rather than the executive branch, has the constitutional authority to declare war.	Democratic Navy veteran running against Paul Gosar criticizes Iran war Democratic Navy veteran running against Paul Gosar criticizes Iran war
Education	Sterbinsky describes education as the most reliable path to affordability and supports fully funding public schools, increasing teacher pay and classroom support, expanding apprenticeships, trades, and workforce training, and connecting education directly to real local jobs so students gain skills leading to steady paychecks without crushing debt. She has also called for smaller class sizes and modern classrooms.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions \| Local Candidates Congressional candidates tackle housing, immigration \| The Center Square
Tech & AI	Sterbinsky's campaign addresses technology primarily through broadband access, calling for treating broadband like essential infrastructure — just like roads and water — and expanding reliable internet so families can learn, work, and access healthcare, closing the digital divide in rural communities. The reviewed campaign materials do not state a specific position on artificial-intelligence regulation or policy.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions \| Local Candidates Danielle Sterbinsky for Congress
Election Policy	Sterbinsky supports congressional term limits, including the U.S. Term Limits pledge for three two-year House terms and two six-year Senate terms; she also supports full campaign-finance transparency, limiting big-money influence, public-financing options modeled on Arizona’s Clean Elections system, and banning members of Congress from trading stocks.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions \| Local Candidates Danielle Sterbinsky Pledges to Support Term Limits on Congress Congressional candidates tackle housing, immigration
Local Issues	Sterbinsky's campaign says rural and community investment should expand opportunity across Arizona's 9th District. Her platform calls for expanding broadband as essential infrastructure and a pathway to jobs and education, investing in rural infrastructure and development grants, protecting water resources that support families and agriculture, and partnering with Native communities with respect for sovereignty. She also supports housing affordability measures including rental assistance and expanding starter and workforce housing.	Danielle Sterbinsky Positions \| Local Candidates Danielle Sterbinsky on Rural Broadband Dani for Congress — Rural & Community Investment

Review an issue

Healthcare

Sterbinsky's campaign says healthcare should not feel like a financial gamble and proposes lowering prescription drug costs, expanding mental health and preventive care, strengthening rural clinics and telehealth access, cutting waste and middlemen that drive up costs, and offering a public option so families can choose affordable coverage. She has cited constituents who buy insulin and cancer medication abroad because U.S. prices are too high.

Sources:

Danielle Sterbinsky Positions | Local Candidates

Danielle Sterbinsky - Ballotpedia

Danielle Sterbinsky on Health Insurance & Coverage

Choose another issue above to review the remaining researched positions.

No public position found: Abortion & Reproductive Health, Firearms & Second Amendment, Civil Rights & Equality

Background

Career History

Petty Officer & Operations Specialist 2015 – Present

United States Navy

Served as an Operations Specialist aboard the USS Bainbridge (destroyer) in the Mediterranean Sea.

Academic Advisor

Unknown

Worked as an academic advisor; also a certified HR professional affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management as of 2025.

Education

University of Hawaii, West Oahu Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences (2019)

Grand Canyon University Master's degree in Industrial Organizational Psychology (2023)

Top Donors

Raised approximately $354,000 in the 2026 cycle, overwhelmingly from small-dollar individual contributions; about 87% of funds came from contributions under $200, with roughly $310K of $350K in individual contributions. Top donor state is Arizona, and self-funding is minimal at $250. No dominant industry PAC pattern is evident; the campaign is funded primarily through grassroots individual donations rather than sectoral or PAC money.

Sources

STERBINSKY, DANIELLE - Candidate overview | FEC Danielle Sterbinsky Donors | Local Candidates Money Watch 2026 - National View | CAWP Congressional candidates tackle housing, immigration | The Center Square Gosar Holds Nearly $278,000 Cash Advantage Over Democratic Challenger

Voting Record

Has not held legislative office, so there is no congressional or state legislative voting record. As a U.S. Navy veteran and first-time candidate, her governing approach is evidenced by campaign positions: she has criticized the Iran war and conditions for service members, and has emphasized housing affordability and immigration reform in candidate forums. She accepted the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections debate invitation after Rep. Gosar declined.

Sources

View full voting record Democratic Navy veteran running against Paul Gosar criticizes Iran war | Arizona Republic Congressional candidates tackle housing, immigration | The Center Square Dani Sterbinsky for Congress - Official Campaign Website

About this research

Data compiled from public sources and analyzed using AI. Last updated September 3, 2026. Visit candidate websites for the most current information.