Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, shown in a 2018 file photo, took heat over the weekend for his connection to a congressional caucus promoting “Anglo-Saxon political traditions” – from a document he angrily said he did not have a hand in. Despite the flap, analysts said they expect it will have little impact on Gosar’s re-election chances. /File photo by Pat Poblete/Cronkite News.
By Haleigh Kochanski/Cronkite News
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar has tried to distance himself from reports he was backing a caucus that would defend “Anglo-Saxon political traditions,” but political analysts say the flap is unlikely to harm the conservative Republican’s re-election prospects.
“If Gosar’s district looks like it does now, he should be fine,” said Kyle Kondik, managing editor for Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia Center for Politics.
“There probably are other things that he could do that would make him vulnerable in a primary, but I don’t think what’s been reported over the past several days qualifies,” Kondik said in an email Monday.
What’s been reported is the uproar over plans for an America First Caucus that Gosar and Rep. Marjorie Greene, R-Georgia, were developing to preserve former President Donald Trump’s policies and “get back to first principles” in government.
Much of the document lays out standard conservative talking points, including calls for tighter borders, election security, states’ rights, a tough stance against China and less foreign aid and military intervention.
