Adelita Grijalva recently emerged victorious from the special election in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, securing her a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA) has expressed support for the soon-to-be congresswoman and said it has high hopes for what she will accomplish in her new role.
“Adelita’s win is a turning point,” LUCHA Executive Director Alejandra Gomez said in a statement. “She’s going to lead, to fight, and to remind the Democratic Party what it looks like to be grounded in people, not corporate donors.
“She’s not going to Congress to blend in.”
To date, there is no certain date for when the representative-elect will be sworn in.
Grijalva, a candidate from the Democrat party, defeated her Republican opponent, Daniel Butierez, by a landslide — 68.9% to 29.4%. Over 70,000 of the votes went to Grijalva, compared to nearly 30,000 for Butierez and 1,116 for the independent candidate, Eduardo Quintana.
Across Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, Grijalva was the prevailing candidate in five of its six counties — losing at 275 to 460 in Pinal County to Butierez. The other counties in the district are Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Santa Cruz and Yuma, which all voted heavily in favor of the democratic candidate.
The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund (CBDAF) — the 501(c)(4) political arm of the Center for Biological Diversity — endorsed Grijalva in June.
“Now more than ever, we need progressive champions in Congress who aren’t afraid to stand up to Trump and the extreme Republicans endangering our future,” CBDAF President Kierán Suckling said in a statement. “We’re proud to stand with Adelita Grijalva as she heads to Washington to carry forward her father’s legacy as a champion of justice, democracy and our environment.
“Adelita is the champion Arizona deserves.”
Formerly on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, Grijalva will be taking over for her late father, Raúl Grijalva, who served in the House of Representatives for roughly 22 years. The former congressman died on March 13 due to complications related to his cancer treatments, his office said.
Prior to winning the special election, Adelita served on the Board of Supervisors for four years, beginning in January 2021. According to CBDAF, she used her platform to advocate for the protection of environmentally sensitive and culturally significant sites and sought to combat climate change through green infrastructure.
On Grijalva’s campaign website, adelitaforcongress.com/issues, she details her stances on various sociopolitical and economic issues — from defending LGBTQ+ rights, tribal sovereignty and humane immigration policies, to promoting affordable housing initiatives, supporting the Department of Education and public schools and opposing the tariffs implemented by the Trump Administration.
Along with LUCHA and CBDAF, Grijalva received endorsements from various organizations and elected officials, including Moms Demand Action, the Working Families Party, the Jane Fonda Climate PAC, the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and several others.
Grijalva said on her campaign website that she opposes war and violence and is a proponent of peace — condemning the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Gaza.
“At my core, I am pro-peace and anti-war,” she said. “You can be critical of a government without being against its people — just as I am deeply critical of the Trump administration but stand with the American people wholeheartedly.
“We can and must stand for peace, justice and human rights for all — including thousands in Gaza.”