Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late Congressman Raúl Grijalva, won the Arizona special election for the 7th Congressional District, becoming the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress.
She delivered an emotional acceptance speech under a banner reading “History made!”, emphasizing service over name recognition and honoring her father’s legacy of dedication to Arizona.
Background
Raúl Grijalva, who passed away in March at 77, had represented the district for years and was one of three House Democrats to die since the start of the 119th Congress. Adelita Grijalva, 54, previously served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
She launched her congressional campaign in March and secured the Democratic nomination on July 15, defeating several competitors including Deja Foxx and Daniel Hernandez.
Election Results
In the Sept. 23 special election, Grijalva defeated Republican Daniel Butierez, a registered contractor.
Her win narrows the Republican majority in the House to 219 seats versus 214 for Democrats, further complicating Speaker Mike Johnson’s efforts to pass legislation with such a slim margin.
Policy Commitments
Grijalva has pledged to support a bipartisan effort to force the public release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein.
In her victory speech, she promised to sign onto the discharge petition on her first day in office, drawing enthusiastic applause. She also vowed to challenge the MAGA agenda and push for greater congressional accountability.
Looking Ahead
Adelita Grijalva will serve out the remainder of the current term. Arizona’s 7th District seat will next be up for election in 2026, where she is expected to seek reelection to continue her historic role in Congress.
