Arizona's 9th congressional district was created as a result of the 2010 census. The first candidates ran in the 2012 House elections, and the first representative was seated for the 113th Congress in 2013. Formerly located in the Phoenix area, the 9th district has been in western Arizona since 2023.
Paul Gosar, who previously represented the 1st and 4th districts, was elected to the seat in 2022 following redistricting. He was sworn in on January 3, 2023. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+16, it is the most Republican district in Arizona.[3]
History
Because it was created in the 2010 redistricting cycle, the first iteration of the 9th district was in effect for election cycles from 2012 to 2020. This version of the district was entirely within Maricopa County. The district included parts of the 2003–2013 versions of the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th districts. Over 60% of the district's population came from the previous 5th district.[4][5] During this period, the 9th district included liberal bastions such as Tempe, strongly conservative portions of the East Valley, and more moderate Republican voters in eastern and southern Phoenix.[6]
Following the 2020 redistricting cycle, this district essentially became the 4th district, while the 9th was redrawn to cover most of the old 4th district.[7] The 9th district's current boundaries include all of La Paz County, most of Mohave County, most of Yuma County, and the western part of Maricopa County. It covers the majority of Arizona's western border, and like its predecessor is heavily Republican, being the most Republican district in Arizona and the fifth-most-Republican district in the West. The 4th's incumbent, Paul Gosar, transferred to the 9th and was re-elected unopposed.[8]