Updated Mar 13, 2025 - Politics & Policy

Rep. Raúl Grijalva dies from cancer at 77

Andrew Solender

Rep. Raúl Grijalva, wearing a sweater and glasses, standing in a yellow room. — Rep. Raúl Grijalva at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on March 28, 2022. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images.

Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), an icon of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, died Thursday due to complications from his cancer treatment, his office announced. He was 77.

What they're saying: "Rep. Grijalva fought a long and brave battle. He passed away this morning due to complications of his cancer treatments," the Arizona Democrat's staff said in a statement.

The former chair of the House Natural Resources Committee was diagnosed with cancer last April.
"A real giant of the House and the progressive movement," Progressive Caucus chair Greg Casar (D-Texas) said of Grijalva at a press conference on Thursday.

Zoom out: A former school board member and county legislator, Grijalva was first elected to Congress in 2002.

He became ranking member of the Natural Resources Committee in 2015 and served as its chair when Democrats held the House from 2019 to 2023.
Last December, Grijalva stepped down from the role amid a challenge from Rep. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) as part of a broader effort to oust some of Democrats' older committee leaders.
He was also a co-chair of the Progressive Caucus from 2009 to 2019.

Editor's note: This a breaking news story. Please check back for updates.

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Rep. Raúl Grijalva dies from cancer at 77

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