Adelita Grijalva

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On March 31, 2025, Grijalva announced that she was launching a campaign for the seat vacated by the death of her father, longtime U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva, to pursue the Democratic nomination for Arizona's 7th congressional district in a 2025 special election. [14] Grijalva met her signature goal in the first five hours of her congressional campaign, making her the first candidate to appear on the ballot. [15] Grijalva said Congress should be reining in President Donald Trump as he cuts the federal government workforce, claws back grant dollars and guts agencies like the U.S. Department of Education. [14] She criticizes plans for a new copper mine at Oak Flat, a project that refused to consider concerns by the San Carlos Apache Tribe and others that the land was necessary for their ceremonies. [16] She received endorsements from leaders including Bernie Sanders, the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and a number of Tucson City Council members, Pima County Supervisors, and state lawmakers. [17] [18] [14]

On July 15, 2025, Grijalva won the Democratic primary, defeating Deja Foxx, Daniel Hernández Jr., and two others. [19]

On September 23, 2025, Grijalva won the special election by a 2–1 margin, defeating Republican Daniel Butierez (whom her father had defeated the previous November), Green Eduardo Quintana, and No Labels candidate Richard Grayson. [20] She is the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress. [21]

Delayed swearing-in

Despite the results not being in dispute, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson refused to swear in Grijalva until the results had been certified (contrasted with James Walkinshaw, Jimmy Patronis, and Randy Fine, who were similarly elected in special elections earlier during the 119th Congress, but were sworn on the day after they'd won their respective special elections). [22] Johnson has continued to refuse to seat Grijalva, claiming that she cannot be sworn in until the House gets back from recess, in spite of a precedent in the 119th Congress in which new members were sworn in the day after their special election, while the House was not in session. [23] On October 3, 2025, 10 days after Grijalva was elected, when the Senate failed to pass a continuing resolution to bring an end to the 2025 United States federal government shutdown, Speaker Johnson announced he would extend the House recess for another week, further delaying her swearing-in. [24] [25] [26]

Her swearing-in was scheduled for October 7 but was delayed when Johnson declared a "district work period" from October 7–13. It was rescheduled for October 14 which he likewise postponed. [27] [28] On October 14, the Arizona Secretary of State certified the election result. [29]

Democrats criticized the move as arbitrary and politically motivated, as Grijalva said that she would sign the discharge petition to force a vote for the release of the complete Epstein files. [30] [31] [32] Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes threatened to sue Johnson. [33]

2026

On September 24, 2025, the day after winning the special election, she announced on Major Garrett's podcast, The Takeout, that she will run for reelection in 2026. [34]

Political positions

Israel–Palestine

In October 2023, the Pima County Board of Supervisors was presented with two resolutions regarding the Gaza war. One motion reaffirmed Israel’s right to self-defense and stood with their retaliatory efforts, while the other mirrored the same type of language, except showed support for the Palestinian people. [35] [36] Although Grijalva attempted to add language around supporting civilians and humanitarian aid, it was "respectfully declined" by Sharon Bronson and Steve Christy, two other Pima County Supervisors. [37]

In a debate with her Republican opponent for the 2025 special election, Grijalva accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. [38]

Personal life

Grijalva lives in Tucson with her husband Sol Gómez, a librarian, and their three children. [39]

Electoral history

2020

Adelita Grijalva
Adelita Grijalva with others (2024) (cropped).jpg
Grijalva in 2024
Member-elect of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Arizona's 7th district
Assuming office
TBD
2020 Pima County Board of Supervisors 5th district election [40] [41]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Adelita Grijalva 18,834 67.33%
Democratic Consuelo Hernandez 9,06632.41%
Write-in 730.26%
Total votes27,973 100.00%
General election
Democratic Adelita Grijalva 56,266 73.47%
Republican Fernando Gonzales20,17926.35%
Write-in 1430.19%
Total votes76,588 100.00%

2024

2024 Pima County Board of Supervisors 5th district election [42] [43]
Primary election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Adelita Grijalva (incumbent) 19,418 99.00%
Write-in 1961.00%
Total votes19,614 100.00%
General election
Democratic Adelita Grijalva (incumbent) 54,700 73.33%
Independent Val Romero19,52426.17%
Write-in 3750.50%
Total votes74,599 100.00%

2025

2025 Arizona's 7th congressional district special election Democratic primary results [44]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Adelita Grijalva 38,679 61.48%
Democratic Deja Foxx 14,07822.38%
Democratic Daniel Hernández Jr. 8,54113.58%
Democratic Patrick Harris9251.47%
Democratic Jose Malvido Jr.6871.09%
Total votes62,910 100.00%
2025 Arizona's 7th congressional district special election [45]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Adelita Grijalva 70,148 68.94% +5.49%
Republican Daniel Butierez29,94429.43%−7.12%
Green Eduardo Quintana1,1181.10%N/A
No Labels Richard Grayson 5370.53%N/A
Total votes101,747 100.00 N/A
Democratic hold

References

  1. 1 2 3 Nintzel, Jim (April 1, 2025). "Adelita Grijalva running for her late father's U.S. House seat". Arizona Mirror . Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  2. ↑ Veselik, Denelle (September 25, 2022). "Adelita Grijalva discusses the challenges and rewards of being a Latina in leadership". KGUN-TV . Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  3. ↑ Demers, Jasmine (July 23, 2020). "2 Democrats running to fill District 5 Board of Supervisors seat once held by Richard Elías". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Adelita Grijalva, Class of 1989". February 13, 2017. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Supervisor Andrés Cano, District 5 | Pima County, AZ". www.pima.gov. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  6. ↑ Echavarri, Fernanda. "TUSD Fires Mexican American Studies Program Director". www.azpm.org. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  7. ↑ Steinberg, Jake. "Democrats poised to expand control of Pima County Board of Supervisors - AZPM". news.azpm.org. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Adelita Grijalva, Pima Supervisor and Vice Chair, for District 5". Democrats of Greater Tucson. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  9. ↑ Kelty, Bennito (February 1, 2022). "Pima County Supes adopt Native land acknowledgement for board meetings". Tucson Sentinel . Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  10. ↑ Ludden, Nicole (January 10, 2023). "Adelita Grijalva appointed chair of Pima County Board of Supervisors". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  11. ↑ Rodriguez, Paola (January 11, 2023). "Adelita Grijalva elected as first Latina Chair for Pima County Board of Supervisors". Arizona Public Media . Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  12. ↑ Leon, Julia (April 1, 2025). "Adelita Grijalva officially steps down from Pima Board to run for Congress in Tucson race". KVOA . Retrieved April 12, 2025.
  13. ↑ Hupka, Sasha (April 16, 2025). "Andrés Cano picked to replace Adelita Grijalva as Pima County supervisor". Arizona Republic . Retrieved April 16, 2025.
  14. 1 2 3 Nintzel, Jim (April 1, 2025). "Adelita Grijalva running for her late father's U.S. House seat". Tucson Sentinel . Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  15. ↑ Rodriguez, Paola. "Adelita Grijalva enters CD 7 race - AZPM". www.azpm.org. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  16. ↑ "CD7 Democrats differ sharply over the environment, taxes and economy | Arizona Capitol Times". May 28, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  17. ↑ "Bernie Sanders Endorses Adelita Grijalva in CD-7 race". Herald/Review Media. April 29, 2025. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  18. ↑ Downs, Garrett (April 22, 2025). "Grijalva wins progressive caucus backing in Arizona race". E&E News by POLITICO. Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  19. ↑ "Arizona US House 7 Democratic Special Election Primary". Decision Desk HQ . Retrieved July 15, 2025.
  20. ↑ "Democrats further narrow GOP's House majority with Arizona special election win". The Washington Post. September 24, 2025. ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  21. ↑ Govindarao, Sejal (September 23, 2025). "Democrat Adelita Grijalva wins special election for southern Arizona congressional seat". AP News. Retrieved September 27, 2025.
  22. ↑ Gersony, Laura (September 24, 2025). "A political fight brews around Adelita Grijalva's swearing-in to Congress". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  23. ↑ Gomez Licon, Adriana; Mascaro, Lisa (October 2, 2025). "Speaker Johnson has yet to swear in newly elected Arizona lawmaker Adelita Grijalva". PBS . Associated Press.
  24. ↑ "Republicans refuse to swear in newly elected Democrat, delaying success of Epstein petition". September 30, 2025.
  25. ↑ Stein, Chris (October 4, 2025). "Mike Johnson hasn't sworn in this new Democrat. Is it because she wants to release the Epstein files?" – via The Guardian.
  26. ↑ Lee Hill, Meredith (October 3, 2025). "House will stay out of session next week as Senate works to solve shutdown". Politico. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
  27. ↑ Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva swearing-in delayed. News 4 Tucson KVOA-TV. October 13, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025– via YouTube.
  28. ↑ Brooks, Emily (October 3, 2025). "Johnson cancels House votes next week, pressuring Senate Democrats to end shutdown". The Hill. Archived from the original on October 4, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
  29. ↑ Nintzel, Jim (October 14, 2025). "Arizona certifies CD7 election but Grijalva still blocked from taking office". TucsonSentinel.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  30. ↑ "Johnson Needs to Swear in New House Democrat Grijalva From Arizona". Bloomberg News (Opinion). September 27, 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  31. ↑ "Ansari Calls on Speaker Johnson to Swear in Adelita Grijalva" (Press release). Washington, DC: Office of Representative Yassamin Ansari. September 2025. Retrieved September 28, 2025.
  32. ↑ Gold, Michael (October 6, 2025). "Elected but Not Seated, Grijalva Waits to Sign Epstein Petition". The New York Times.
  33. ↑ Valencia, Peter (October 14, 2025). "Arizona AG threatens to sue House Speaker over Grijalva swearing-in delay". azfamily.com. Retrieved October 14, 2025.
  34. ↑ Garrett, Major (September 24, 2025). "Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva on winning Arizona special election, when she expects to be sworn in". CBS News . Retrieved September 25, 2025. Grijalva: Yes, I'm going to run for reelection.
  35. ↑ Valdez, Alex (October 17, 2023). "Pima County Board of Supervisors will discuss the Israel-Hamas War". Tucson: KOLD News 13 . Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  36. ↑ "Pima County Board of Supervisors' Meeting - Meeting summary Report". Pima: Pima County Board of Supervisors. October 17, 2023. Retrieved July 16, 2025.
  37. ↑ Foster, Bud (October 18, 2023). "Pima County Supervisor's political differences laid bare after votes on two resolutions supporting Israel". Tucson: KOLD-TV News. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  38. ↑ Gersony, Laura. "Democrat Adelita Grijalva accuses Israel of 'genocide' in televised congressional debate". The Arizona Republic.
  39. ↑ "Local librarian sheds bookworm image in pin-up calendar". KOLD-TV . October 12, 2011. Retrieved May 11, 2025.
  40. ↑ "Official Canvass - Primary Election - August 4, 2020" (PDF). Pima County . August 12, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Summary Results Report - GENERAL ELECTION - November 3, 2020" (PDF). Pima County . November 13, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Summary Results Report - 2024 Primary Election - July 30, 2024". Pima County . August 5, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Summary Results Report - General Election - November 5, 2024". Pima County . November 18, 2024. Retrieved July 18, 2025.
  44. ↑ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2025 Special Primary Election" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. Arizona Secretary of State. July 31, 2025. Retrieved July 31, 2025.
  45. ↑ "2025 Special General Election". results.arizona.vote. September 23, 2025. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 7th congressional district
Taking office 2025		Elect


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