Democrat Adelita Grijalva has received a particular election in Arizona’s seventh Congressional District, and her victory could possibly be the tipping level within the struggle to pressure a vote on releasing the Epstein recordsdata.
The race was referred to as Tuesday evening, with early returns exhibiting Grijalva greater than doubling the vote rely of Republican Daniel Butierez, who additionally misplaced in 2024 to her father, the late Rep. Raul Grijalva.
Democrat Adelita Grijalva proper earlier than successful a particular election in Arizona’s seventh Congressional District.
This time, Grijalva cleared practically 69% of the vote in a district that spans Arizona’s southern border with Mexico, together with Tucson and elements of Phoenix. Her win makes her the primary Latina to characterize Arizona in Congress and retains a reliably blue seat firmly in Democratic fingers.
“This is a victory not for me, but for our community and the progressive movement my dad started in Southern Arizona more than 50 years ago,” Grijalva stated after her July major win.
On Tuesday evening, she thanked her supporters on social media.
“Now, let’s get to work,” she wrote.
Grijalva will serve the remaining months of her father’s time period.
In 2024, Kamala Harris received Arizona’s seventh District by greater than 22 factors, making Grijalva’s landslide one other Democratic overperformance—this time in an off-year contest.
Grijalva’s arrival on Capitol Hill additionally shrinks the GOP’s razor-thin majority to 219-214 with two vacancies nonetheless unfilled—which means Home Speaker Mike Johnson can lose solely two GOP votes on party-line payments.
The subsequent two particular elections—one in Texas following Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner’s loss of life and the opposite in Tennessee after GOP Rep. Mark Inexperienced’s departure—may tighten the margin even additional. An all-party major for Turner’s seat is ready for Nov. 4, and Inexperienced’s substitute might be chosen on Dec. 2, leaving each vote in Washington at a premium heading into 2026.
Democrats are relying on Grijalva to waste no time signing the discharge petition to pressure a ground vote on a invoice requiring the Justice Division to launch all unclassified Epstein recordsdata. The petition—spearheaded by GOP Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California—has been gaining signatures for months and now has the 218 votes wanted to bypass GOP management.
A cartoon by Clay Bennett.
Massie secured the 217th vote earlier this month when Virginia Democrat James Walkinshaw was sworn in after a particular election win. Each Grijalva and Butierez informed the Arizona Day by day Star that they supported the petition, making Tuesday evening’s outcome the breakthrough that supporters had been ready for.
“We are hearing from voters that they believe the survivors deserve justice, and Congress must fulfill its duty to check the executive branch and hold Trump accountable,” Grijalva informed CNN.
Massie says {that a} vote may come as early as mid-October, calling the Arizona race the catalyst for reaching 218 signatures. As soon as Grijalva is sworn in and indicators on, there might be a seven-day ready interval earlier than the invoice might be pressured to the ground. Home leaders then have two legislative days to take motion.
Home Republicans have spent months making an attempt to keep away from this second, with Johnson even adjourning the chamber a day early in July to dam votes on the problem.
Discharge petitions not often succeed as a result of rank-and-file members are reluctant to defy their management, however the Epstein case has sparked uncommon bipartisan power. Each Democrat and 4 Republicans have signed on, together with Trump allies like Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, and Nancy Mace of South Carolina, who argue that survivors deserve solutions.
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Even when the petition succeeds, the invoice nonetheless faces a steep climb within the Senate and would require President Donald Trump’s signature—an unlikely prospect. Nonetheless, Grijalva’s win offers Democrats momentum in a Home the place they’ve been trying to find leverage in opposition to Johnson’s slim however cussed majority.
On the path, Grijalva campaigned on limiting immigration operations, defending well being care, and preventing for environmental justice. She additionally pledged to curb Trump’s energy to impose tariffs unilaterally.
Trump’s allies might attempt to slow-walk the vote, however strain is mounting.
For Democrats, Grijalva’s victory not solely retains her father’s seat within the household, however it additionally brings the Home one step nearer to forcing one of the crucial politically explosive votes of the 12 months—and to holding Trump’s DOJ accountable.
