Adelita Grijalva Sworn In, Paves Way for Epstein Vote/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Adelita Grijalva is officially sworn into the U.S. House after winning a special election to succeed her late father. Her arrival provides the crucial 218th signature needed for a potential vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The House also begins votes to end the historic government shutdown.
Grijalva Swearing-In Quick Looks
- Adelita Grijalva sworn in after seven-week delay
- House reconvenes for first vote since September 19
- Her signature enables movement on Epstein documents vote
- Speaker Mike Johnson delayed swearing-in until session resumed
- Grijalva is Arizona’s first Latina U.S. Representative
- Democrats accuse GOP of partisan delay tactics
- Grijalva opposes Senate shutdown bill over ACA tax credits
- Epstein bill has bipartisan support but delayed under House rules
- Grijalva focuses on tribal sovereignty, education, and justice
- Emotional win honors late Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s legacy
Deep Look: Grijalva Sworn In as House Returns, Epstein Files Vote Advances
WASHINGTON — As the U.S. House of Representatives returns to Capitol Hill for the first time in nearly two months, newly elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva will be officially sworn in Wednesday, ending a politically charged delay and setting in motion a potential vote on releasing unclassified documents related to Jeffrey Epstein.
Grijalva’s oath of office is scheduled for 4 p.m. EST and marks one of the first formal actions as Congress resumes legislative business after the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. The Arizona Democrat’s swearing-in follows her victory in a September 23 special election to fill the seat of her late father, longtime Representative Raúl Grijalva, who passed away earlier this year.
“It’s still surreal,” Grijalva told the Associated Press. “We’ve been waiting for this so long… it’s been a roller coaster.”
A Delayed Welcome Sparks Political Tension
Grijalva’s induction into Congress comes seven weeks after her election win, a delay that Democrats argue was politically motivated. Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, refused to swear her in while the House was not in session, citing procedural reasons. However, Johnson had sworn in two Republican members earlier in the year under similar conditions, prompting accusations of a partisan double standard.
“It feels personal because literally, my name was attached,” Grijalva said. “If I were a Republican, I would have been sworn in seven weeks ago.”
The delay prevented Grijalva from adding her name to a discharge petition that would force a vote on the Epstein Files Transparency Act, a bipartisan bill requiring the Justice Department to release all unclassified documents related to Epstein’s trafficking network.
Grijalva Unlocks Key Epstein Vote
Once sworn in, Grijalva is expected to become the 218th signatory on the discharge petition, the minimum number required to compel House leadership to bring the bill to the floor.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), and has drawn support from both parties, including Republicans Lauren Boebert, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Nancy Mace. While Grijalva’s signature clears a procedural hurdle, House rules prevent an immediate vote. Instead, the bill could come up for a vote in early December, according to Rep. Jim McGovern, the top Democrat on the House Rules Committee.
A Symbolic and Emotional Victory
Grijalva’s arrival in Congress holds historical and personal significance. She becomes Arizona’s first Latina U.S. Representative, continuing a legacy her father built over two decades as a staunch progressive and advocate for underserved communities.
“I would rather have my dad than have an office,” she said, reflecting on the weight of stepping into his role. Her political journey includes years on the Tucson Unified School District board and the Pima County Board of Supervisors, where she became only the second woman to lead the board.
She will now represent a majority-Hispanic district in southern Arizona where Democrats hold a nearly 2-to-1 advantage over Republicans.
Busy First Day: Shutdown Vote and Democratic Dissent
Grijalva’s first official vote in Congress will concern the Senate-passed bill to end the government shutdown, now in its 43rd day. While the bill is expected to pass with Republican support, most Democrats—including Grijalva—oppose it due to the absence of Affordable Care Act tax credit extensions, which are set to expire at the end of the year.
Speaker Johnson has hailed the bill as a victory and a necessary compromise. Democrats, however, argue that key provisions protecting affordable health coverage were sacrificed and accuse the GOP of using the shutdown to extract partisan wins.
Grijalva’s Policy Priorities
As she begins her tenure in the House, Grijalva emphasized that her legislative priorities will reflect the values her father championed: environmental justice, tribal sovereignty, and public education.
“I know that the bar is set very high,” she said. “The expectation is high of what we’re going to be able to do once sworn in.”
Grijalva’s swearing-in ceremony symbolizes not only a return to full congressional representation for her district but also an infusion of progressive energy into the chamber at a time when key debates around transparency, health care, and accountability dominate the national political landscape.
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