On a night charged with emotion and history, Southern Arizona voters decisively elected Democrat Adelita Grijalva to the U.S. House of Representatives, making her the first Latina from Arizona to serve in Congress. The special election, held on September 23, 2025, was prompted by the passing of her father, the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who had represented Arizona’s 7th Congressional District for more than two decades. The Associated Press called the race for Adelita Grijalva less than ten minutes after the polls closed, as early returns showed her with a commanding 69% of the vote to Republican Daniel Butierez’s 30%—a margin that left little doubt about the district’s political leanings and the impact of her campaign.
The district, which covers a broad swath of Southern Arizona and hugs nearly the entire length of the state’s border with Mexico, has long been a Democratic stronghold. As of August 2025, 40% of registered voters were Democrats, with Republicans making up 21% and independents and others comprising the remaining 39%. Historically, Democrats have held sway in the region since Arizona’s statehood in 1912, and Adelita Grijalva’s victory continues that legacy. According to The Week, Raúl Grijalva’s death in March from cancer set the stage for this closely watched special election, one of two remaining vacancies in blue districts that Democrats needed to hold to avoid losing further ground in the U.S. House.
Grijalva’s victory party at Tucson’s El Casino Ballroom was a jubilant affair, filled with music, food, and a palpable sense of accomplishment. Supporters erupted in cheers when Alicia Keys and Nicki Minaj’s “Girl on Fire” played, and the excitement only grew as results began to trickle in. Adelita’s daughter, Adelina, was the first to publicly declare her mother’s win, surrounded by students holding signs that read “History made!” In her speech, Adelina praised her mother’s commitment, saying, “She’s always here for us just as she’s always here for Southern Arizona.”
When Adelita Grijalva finally took the podium, her remarks were as much a tribute to her late father as they were a call to action. “More than 50 years ago, my dad started a movement based on dignity and equity for all. Fifty years later that movement is alive,” she said, pausing to wipe away a tear. The crowd responded with cries of “¡Presente!” to which she replied, “Claro que está presente.” She emphasized the historic nature of her victory, declaring herself the first Latina member of Congress in Arizona history. “Some people call it a machine, we call it la máquina, but it’s really just us,” she reflected, acknowledging the grassroots power behind her campaign.
Turning to policy, Grijalva made her priorities clear. She pledged to focus on environmental justice, tribal sovereignty, and to sign the petition that would push for the release of the Justice Department’s unclassified files on Jeffrey Epstein. “We reject the MAGA agenda and we will hold this administration accountable,” she said, adding, “Congress has abdicated their duties” and were “rubberstamping” Trump’s policies. She also expressed her intention to join the Committee on Education and Workforce, a nod to her two decades of service on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board.
Her campaign resonated with a diverse coalition of supporters, from college students to longtime community leaders. Rahel Hehn, president of the UA College Democrats, told Arizona Luminaria that Grijalva “represents a lot of the progressive values young people are embracing,” such as housing affordability, LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, and support for Black and Brown communities. The student group actively supported Grijalva after she won the primary, knocking on doors and running social media campaigns to boost turnout.
Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, a close ally, highlighted the significance of Grijalva’s win for working families. “We asked not only for their vote but for what they care about. The people want a voice that represents working families,” Romero said, calling Grijalva “my comadre” and noting, “This is her time, this is our time. This is where the hard work starts.” State representative Betty Villegas echoed these sentiments, pointing out that federal politics “really affects us in Arizona,” especially after funding cuts from the recent reconciliation bill. “That’s why it’s so important to have representation there,” Villegas said, praising Grijalva’s pragmatic approach and her ability to “get things done.”
For Republican Daniel Butierez, the night was bittersweet. Gathering with about 70 supporters at Brother John’s in Tucson, Butierez expressed pride in his campaign, even as he acknowledged the uphill battle in a district with a nearly 2-to-1 Democratic registration advantage. “I’m tired. I just want to forget about this a little bit,” he admitted, mentioning plans to go fishing and to continue his work helping homeless communities. Butierez, who owns a painting company and campaigned on border security and homelessness, had previously lost to Raúl Grijalva in 2024. He led in Pinal County with about 62% of the vote there, but it was not enough to overcome the district’s Democratic tilt. Supporter Linda Myers summed up the mood among Butierez’s backers: “I think he’ll do a great job. Grijalva is not a great fit. I’m tired of the same old stuff.”
The election’s national significance extends beyond Arizona. Once Grijalva is sworn in—likely in early October when the House returns from recess—Democrats will hold 214 seats to Republicans’ 219, as reported by The Week. Her arrival in Washington is expected to provide the decisive 218th signature on a bipartisan petition led by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to force a House vote on releasing all unclassified Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein. The move has garnered support from both sides of the aisle, with Reps. Nancy Mace, Lauren Boebert, and Marjorie Taylor Greene among the Republicans backing the effort. The petition is seen as a rare challenge to House Speaker Mike Johnson’s authority and to President Donald Trump’s influence, signaling shifting dynamics in the chamber.
Grijalva’s win also holds personal and symbolic weight. She resigned from her role as chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors earlier this year to pursue her father’s seat, determined to continue his legacy of advocating for dignity, equity, and justice. “This victory belongs to the people—el pueblo,” she said in a statement on social media. “Now, let’s get to work.”
While the special election does not alter the balance of power in the House, it reinforces the importance of representation and the ongoing struggle for progressive values in a changing political landscape. As Josh Polacheck, Arizona Democratic Party Vice Chair, put it to Arizona Luminaria, “History was made tonight as Southern Arizona elected someone who is going to fight for the people and not for the billionaires.”
With her swearing-in on the horizon, Adelita Grijalva stands poised to bring both experience and a fresh perspective to Washington, carrying forward a family legacy while charting her own path in Congress. The eyes of Arizona—and the nation—will be watching as she takes her seat and begins her tenure.
