Daughter late Rep. Grijalva secures Democratic Congress bid. Can southern AZ remain blue?

Adelita Grijalva, the daughter of the late progressive U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, won Tuesday’s Democratic primary election to fill her father’s seat for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, which covers a large part of southern Arizona.

The area, which includes parts of Pima, Santa Cruz, Yuma, Cochise, Maricopa and Pinal counties, has been represented by a Democrat since it was created following the 2000 Census. This special election marks the first time in over 20 years that a new representative is being elected.

Adelita Grijalva, 54, has been a locally elected official for over two decades, serving on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board since 2002 and on the Pima County Board of Supervisors since 2021.

“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. We didn’t get distracted by the noise or national headlines,” Grijalva wrote in a post on Instagram. “We kept our heads down, did the work, and delivered a message rooted not just in fighting back against a dangerous and tyrannical administration - but in fighting for something: for our democracy, for the dignity of working people, and for the values that truly define Southern Arizona - justice, equity, and opportunity for all.

Grijalva received overwhelming endorsements from establishment and socialist Democrats alike, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, during the first leg of her campaign.

Sanders congratulated her early Wednesday after news of her victory.

“Adelita is going to be a great progressive fighter for the working families of Arizona and all Americans,” he wrote in a post on X.

Raúl Grijalva passed away in March after a long battle with lung cancer. He was among the few congressional members from Arizona who spoke out on issues that resonated with the far left, including issues on abortion, access to healthcare, comprehensive immigration reform and environmental issues.

His daughter, Adelita Grijalva, intends to continue that legacy, prioritizing economic relief, affordable housing and healthcare and immigration for the residents of southern Arizona.

Grijalva’s main opponent was Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old first-time candidate who captured national headlines via her presence on social media and her call for a generational shift in public office leadership.

On an Instagram post, Foxx offered her support to Grijalva and thanked the community that helped campaign on her behalf and that pushed many Gen Zers into civic engagement.

“For so many, this was your first time getting involved in politics—and let me tell you: you made a difference… That hope will carry on far past this election,” she wrote. “Because change doesn’t come from a single election—it comes from a movement that refuses to give up. And we’re not going anywhere. This is just the beginning. Let’s take what we’ve learned, keep organizing, and keep building.”

Grijalva now heads a campaign against Republican candidate Daniel Butierrez Sr., a local contractor. That election will take place on Sept. 23. The winner will have to run once more during the 2026 midterm elections.