Democrat Adelita Grijalva has secured the congressional seat in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, becoming the state’s first Latina in Congress. Her victory marks a significant shift in the political landscape and further erodes the Republican majority in the House, which currently holds a narrow 219-214 advantage with two vacancies remaining. Grijalva, a former Pima County supervisor, defeated Republican candidate Daniel Butierez in the special election, which saw Democrats maintain a strong voter registration advantage in the largely Hispanic district.
The 7th Congressional District, which spans from Yuma to Tucson, has long been a stronghold for Democrats, with a nearly two-to-one voter registration edge over Republicans. The election result underscores a broader trend of Democratic gains in key congressional districts, with other vacancies in Texas’s 18th District and Tennessee’s 7th District set to be filled in the coming months.
Grijalva’s campaign, supported by prominent progressive figures like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, emphasized her opposition to President Donald Trump’s policies, including the contentious ‘Big Ugly Bill’ that affected over 383,000 Arizonans. Her victory also included support from progressive activist Deja Foxx, though she came in second in the primary.
Butierez, despite his campaign efforts, struggled to attract widespread support in a district historically favoring Democrats. He ran on a platform of representing all voters, but Grijalva’s win suggests that the current political climate favors candidates with strong Democratic ties.
As Grijalva prepares to take office, she has pledged to push for Democratic priorities, including pushing for the discharge petition to address the release of files on the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The political landscape in Arizona and beyond will continue to shift as the 2025 elections approach, with significant implications for the balance of power in the House.