For weeks, the halls of Congress have echoed with the absence of one crucial voice: that of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, the newly chosen representative for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. The story of her delayed swearing-in has become a flashpoint in a broader struggle over political control, transparency, and the very mechanics of American democracy.
Adelita Grijalva’s journey to Capitol Hill began in the wake of personal and communal loss. On March 13, 2025, her father, U.S. Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva—a stalwart champion of Native American rights, environmental justice, and education equity—passed away at the age of 77. His death left Arizona’s 7th District, home to more than 800,000 residents and a significant Native American population, without a representative for over six months, as reported by Native News Online.
Voters responded decisively in the special election held on September 23, 2025. Adelita Grijalva, 54, swept to victory with 69% of the vote, defeating her Republican opponent by a 40-point margin. The mandate was clear: constituents wanted her to carry forward her father’s legacy and represent their interests in Congress. Yet, despite this overwhelming support, Grijalva has not been sworn in. The reason, according to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-La.), is procedural: the House will not administer the oath until the government reopens.
Johnson’s stance has sparked outrage and confusion. In a news conference on October 20, 2025, Johnson explained, “Rep. Grijalva won her race in the... last week of September after we had already gone out of session, so I will administer the oath to her, hope on the first day we come back [to] legislative session. I’m willing and anxious to do that.” He has maintained that he is “following the Pelosi precedent,” referencing a time when then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi waited to swear in three Republicans who had won special elections during recess.
However, critics point out that Johnson’s claim of precedent is shaky at best. As The Hill reported, there is recent precedent for swearing in new members during recess or pro-forma sessions. In April 2025, Johnson himself seated two Florida Republicans during such a session, just a day after their special elections. Johnson argued that those were exceptions because the lawmakers’ families were present in Washington, but Democrats aren’t convinced. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has called the delay “shameful,” asserting, “Speaker Johnson and House Republicans apparently want to continue to hide the Jeffrey Epstein files from the American people.”
The political stakes behind the delay are significant. Grijalva’s vote would be the 218th signature required to force a vote on a bipartisan discharge petition seeking the release of Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein, the convicted sex offender with deep connections in both political parties. Johnson has denied that this is the real reason for the delay, stating, “Instead of doing TikTok videos, she should be serving her constituents. She could be taking their calls. She can be directing them, trying to help them through the crisis that the Democrats have created… by shutting down the government.” But observers from across the spectrum, including Native News Online, believe the timeline and the stakes suggest otherwise.
Meanwhile, the practical impact on Grijalva and her district is profound. She has been unable to access government email, casework systems, or sign leases for in-district offices. “We have no access to government email, casework systems, and other basic infrastructure. Moreover, we cannot sign any leases for in-district offices to provide constituent services,” Grijalva wrote in a statement to ABC News. She likened the situation to “handing me the keys to a car with no engine, no tires, and no fuel.” In an interview with Bloomberg Government, she added, “He’s gaslighting people... It’s like someone asking you to make dinner, but you don’t have a stove or any food.”
Grijalva has already provided House administrators with a list of 16 staffers she plans to employ, but none can proceed until she is officially sworn in. The result? More than 800,000 residents—many from Native American tribes such as the Tohono O’odham Nation, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, and Cocopah Tribe—are left without a voice in Congress. “The people of Southern Arizona have voted clearly, yet more than 812,000 people are still denied their voice in Congress,” Grijalva emphasized in her remarks.
Arizona’s Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has warned Johnson that her office is considering all legal options to get Grijalva seated. In a letter, Mayes wrote, “The effect of your failure to follow usual practice is that Arizona is down a representative from the number to which it is constitutionally entitled. And the more than 813,000 residents of Arizona’s Seventh Congressional District currently have no representation in Congress.” House Minority Leader Jeffries has echoed this sentiment, promising swift legal action if Grijalva is not sworn in promptly.
The issue has also drawn attention to disparities in how special elections are handled. As reported by Native News Online, special elections in Republican-leaning districts have not faced similar obstruction. GOP winners have been seated during House recesses or without ceremony, while Grijalva’s case drags on with no end in sight. Many see this as a form of disenfranchisement, particularly for Native American communities that already experience underrepresentation and systemic neglect.
Johnson’s refusal to bring the House back for regular business until the government reopens has only deepened the impasse. He blames Democrats for the shutdown, stating, “I refuse to allow us to come back and engage in anything until the government is reopened, when the Democrats do the right thing for the people.” Yet, as the days pass, the absence of representation for Arizona’s 7th District becomes more glaring—and more damaging.
For Grijalva and her supporters, the delay is about more than ceremony. It’s about control, transparency, and the fundamental promise of representative democracy. “Every day this delay continues, the House of Representatives becomes less representative. Democracy suffers. Transparency stalls. And the message to voters becomes painfully clear: Your voice matters only when it’s politically convenient,” Native News Online opined.
As the legal and political standoff continues, the people of Arizona’s 7th District wait—impatiently—for their voice to be heard in Congress once again. The outcome of this dispute will resonate far beyond one district, testing the boundaries of precedent, political gamesmanship, and the resilience of American democracy itself.
