2010 House Race

Gosar announced his U.S. House candidacy in May 2009, saying he was motivated to eliminate "government-imposed roadblocks" "after witnessing Arizona middle-class families and small businesses suffer under Washington Democrats' job-killing and burdensome agenda."

As of August 2010, Gosar had raised $414,486 - including about $23,500 of his own money - and was heavily supported by dentists across the country and in Flagstaff, with more than 400 donors identifying themselves as in the dental field.

He received 31 percent of the Republican primary vote in a field of eight candidates, with his runner-up, the district's 2008 Republican candidate Sydney Hay, receiving 22.8 percent.

The National Republican Congressional Committee named Gosar a "Young Gun" in early September, with chairman Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.) saying Gosar's campaign was "a symbol of the growing momentum behind Republican candidates in Arizona and across the country."

Later in September, Gosar became the first Arizona House candidate to win an endorsement from Sarah Palin.

Gosar and Palin have met multiple times, stemming from when he was chairman of the American Dental Association's Council on Government Affairs. Alaska dentists, who were fighting the expansion of training programs for dental health aides, backed Gosar, issuing a congratulatory press release after the primary and donating money to his campaign.

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