Raúl Grijalva: Special election dates announced for late congressman's seat
Election dates announced for Raúl Grijalva's seat
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has announced when a replacement will be selected to succeed Raúl Grijalva in Congress. Grijalva, who has represented Arizona in Congress for decades, died on March 13 due to complications from cancer treatments.
PHOENIX - We now know when a person will be selected to replace late Congressman Raúl Grijalva in Congress.
What we know:
In a statement released on March 14, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced that a special primary election for Arizona's 7th Congressional District will be held on Tuesday, July 15.
The special primary will be followed by a special general election, which will take place on Tuesday, September 23. The special election is prompted by Grijalva's death due to complications from cancer treatments.
According to the Associated Press, the Democratic primary for the now-vacant seat is likely to be a fierce battle between allies of Grijalva and a more moderate faction. Possible contenders include his daughter, Adelita Grijalva, a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, one of Grijalva's longtime allies.
Why is a special election needed?
Dig deeper:
Under Arizona law, a special election must be held because the Congressional seat became vacant over six months away from the next regularly scheduled general election.
The next regularly scheduled general election is set to take place in November 2026.
Grijalva served in Congress for decades
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Raul Grijalva, who has served as an Arizona representative to Congress since 2002, has died due to complications from cancer treatment, according to a statement his office released on March 13.
The backstory:
Grijalva, the son of a Mexican immigrant, was first elected to the House in 2002. Known as a liberal leader, he led the Congressional Progressive Caucus in 2008 and dedicated much of his career to working on environmental causes on the Natural Resources Committee. He stepped down from that position this year, after announcing that he planned to retire rather than run for reelection in 2026.
Prior to his time in Congress, Grijalva served in various public offices for decades, including the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board and the Pima County Board of Supervisors.