Adelita Grijalva Wins Arizona House Democratic Primary/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Adelita Grijalva has secured the Democratic nomination to fill the Arizona U.S. House seat long held by her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva. She will face Republican Daniel Butierez in a special election for the heavily Democratic 7th District. A win would make her the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress.
Quick Looks
- Adelita Grijalva wins Arizona’s 7th District Democratic primary
- Seat left vacant after death of Rep. Raúl Grijalva
- Faces Republican Daniel Butierez in Sept. 23 special election
- Grijalva backed by progressive heavyweights like AOC and Sanders
- District is majority Hispanic and heavily Democratic
- Grijalva pledges to focus on cost of living, immigrant rights
- Race one of three key special elections in 2025
- Butierez vows to represent all voters, not just Republicans
Deep Look
Adelita Grijalva Secures Democratic Nod to Succeed Late Father in Arizona’s 7th District
PHOENIX (AP) — Adelita Grijalva has won the Democratic primary for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, paving the way for a high-profile special election to fill the seat left vacant by her father, the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva.
Adelita Grijalva, a longtime local leader and daughter of the progressive congressman, emerged victorious from a crowded Democratic field on Tuesday. She will face Republican Daniel Butierez, a painting company owner, in the Sept. 23 special election in a district where Democrats hold a strong advantage.
“This is a victory not for me, but for our community and the progressive movement my dad started in Southern Arizona more than 50 years ago,” Grijalva said in a statement after her win.
A Progressive Torchbearer
Raúl Grijalva’s passing in March ended more than two decades of service in Congress, where he became known for championing environmental protections, immigrant rights, and Native American issues. He consistently defeated Republican challengers in the deep-blue district, which spans much of Arizona’s border with Mexico and includes parts of Tucson.
Adelita Grijalva, who serves on local governing boards, campaigned on lowering living costs, safeguarding Medicaid and Social Security, and advocating for immigrant rights. She garnered support from progressive powerhouses such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, and numerous local officials.
Her commanding win saw her leading her closest Democratic rival, Deja Foxx, by roughly 40 percentage points when the Associated Press called the race.
A Historic Candidacy
Should she win the general election, Adelita Grijalva would become the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress—a milestone for a district that is about 60% Hispanic.
“In a district that is 60 percent Hispanic, it is critical that voters see themselves in their representatives, and Adelita is the fighter they need in Congress,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez, chair of the BOLD PAC, the Hispanic Caucus’ campaign arm.
GOP Challenger Eyes an Upset
On the Republican side, Daniel Butierez emerged as the nominee after defeating business owners Jimmy Rodriguez and Jorge Rivas. Despite the district’s strong Democratic lean, Butierez remains optimistic about broadening his appeal.
“I’m not running to represent just the Democrats or just the Republicans. I’m running to represent everybody,” he said after his win.
Butierez previously captured over a third of the vote against Raúl Grijalva in 2024 and believes he can sway more voters this time.
Broader Stakes
While the race won’t shift control of the U.S. House, it’s one of three special elections in Democratic-leaning districts that could reduce the Republicans’ narrow 220-212 majority once filled. Democrats maintain nearly a 2-to-1 registration advantage over Republicans in Arizona’s 7th District.
Official results of Tuesday’s primaries will be certified by Arizona’s Secretary of State on July 31.
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