The daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.) is running for his House seat in the special election set to replace him this fall.
Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat and a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, announced her candidacy Monday in a post on the social platform X, saying Arizona deserves a “progressive champion” who will stand up to President Trump and fight for working families.
Grijalva said her father, who died of lung cancer earlier this month at 77 years old, spent his life fighting for justice, equity and dignity for the most vulnerable communities. She highlighted her record as an advocate, serving on a school board to strengthen public education and the board of supervisors to push for investments in affordable housing, child care and protecting the Sonoran Desert.
“Those are my values, and they are grounded right here in southern Arizona. The place I’ve lived my entire life,” she said. “I know the hopes, the struggles and the strength of our community because it’s in my DNA.”
Grijalva also said the idea of America that her father's legacy represents is under “serious threat,” arguing that Trump, Elon Musk and their “gang of billionaires” are destroying schools, attacking sacred rights, poisoning the environment and hurting the most vulnerable populations, such as senior citizens, veterans, children and immigrants.
“But together, we can stop them,” she said.
Grijalva will face Daniel Hernández Jr., a former Arizona state House member, in the Democratic primary, which is set for July 15. Hernández is a former intern for former Rep. Gabby Giffords (D-Ariz.) who received widespread praise for his role in saving Giffords’s life during the attempted assassination of her in 2011.
A Phoenix-based Fox affiliate reported that Grijalva will resign from her seat on the board of supervisors April 4.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary in the heavily Democratic-leaning 7th Congressional District should be the clear favorite to win the general election, which is set for Sept. 23.
