Adelita Grijalva secures Democratic primary victory to follow her late father in Arizona House seat
Arizona Democrats have selected Adelita Grijalva, the daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, to contest for her father’s former congressional seat in a special election scheduled for September. According to projections from The Associated Press, Grijalva, who previously served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, emerged victorious in the recent special Democratic primary.
She received 62% of the votes, significantly ahead of her competitors, 25-year-old activist Deja Foxx and former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez, who trailed with 20%. At 54 years old, Grijalva garnered support from influential Democratic figures, including Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, as well as national progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The primary campaign featured a notable generational divide. Foxx, who presented herself as a progressive candidate, criticized Grijalva during a recent debate, highlighting differences in their political backgrounds and her own lack of a “legacy last name.”
Foxx also received backing from David Hogg’s PAC, Leaders We Deserve, aimed at promoting younger candidates within the Democratic Party. In response, Grijalva expressed the importance of experience in a candidate, stating that it was disheartening to see experience considered a disadvantage.
She voiced her concerns about misinformation during the campaign, especially within the party. In her victory speech, Grijalva emphasized that her campaign focused on community engagement rather than personal branding or social media popularity.
Grijalva acknowledged her father’s influence on her approach to politics, illustrating a commitment to grassroots efforts. Grijalva will now face Republican candidate Daniel Butierez in the special election set for September 23.
The district is predominantly Democratic, as evidenced by former Vice President Kamala Harris’s significant victory margin there in 2024.