Julia Gusse didn’t need a stage Friday. Just her backyard, an intimate crowd and a message that she’s ready to take a stand for her community on a deeper level.

The Senita resident and former Maricopa city council member officially launched her campaign for the Arizona House of Representatives from her home Friday night, hoping to unseat Republican incumbents Teresa Martinez or Chris Lopez.

Martinez has held office since 2021 and Lopez was elected in 2024, beating former Rep. Keith Seaman (D-Casa Grande) by 3.4%.

As the only challenger in the race, Gusse acknowledged the uphill battle ahead.

“This is going to be a marathon, so we’re just getting started,” she said.

The crowd was composed of family, friends, community organizers and current and former local government officials and candidates. This included former Ak-Chin Chairman Robert Miguel, Maricopa City Councilmember Henry Wade and former Maricopa mayoral candidate Leon Potter.

A U.S. Air Force veteran, Gusse recently retired from her most recent job as a legislative liaison for the Arizona Department of Veterans Services. She previously worked with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs as a senior advisor and as a director for Arizona State University’s Veterans Upward Bound program while also serving two terms on city council.

Gusse told the crowd she’s taking those experiences to center her campaign on representing veterans and working families while also committing to work across party lines.

“I’m a fighter, and I’ve worked across party lines, because I’ve always believed that the party’s labels don’t define the characters. What really matters are the results,” she said.

She also outlined several policy priorities, including water conservation

“Protecting our water is one of the priorities that I’m making when I get elected, [plus] investing in public safety and investing in rural health care,” she said.

In a previous interview with InMaricopa, Gusse said her decision to run stems from a desire to expand her service beyond the local level.

“I really just want to represent Maricopa in a different platform. Since I’ve already served as a council member, I’m ready to move onto state representative,” she said.

A campaign fundraising thermometer is ready to be filled at the beginning of Julia Gusse's campaign launch on April 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Julia Gusse speaks to a crowd at her Senita home on April 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]

Literature for Julia Gusse sits among refreshments at her campaign launch on April 24, 2026. [Monica D. Spencer]