Early voting begins in special election to replace Raúl Grijalva
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Deja Foxx (left), Daniel Hernandez (center) and Adelita Grijalva (right) are vying for the Democratic nomination in the special election for the 7th Congressional District. Photos: Courtesy of the Foxx, Hernandez and Grijalva campaigns
Early voting begins Wednesday in the primary to replace longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March.
The big picture: Five candidates are seeking the Democratic nomination in the 7th Congressional District, which spans southern Arizona from Tucson to Yuma and into the southwestern Phoenix area.
Why it matters: The race gives Arizona Democrats their first opportunity to vote since President Trump began his second term.
- Grijalva held the seat for 22 years. The district is overwhelmingly blue, so the Democratic primary winner could serve for decades.
State of play: Deja Foxx, Adelita Grijalva, Patrick Harris Sr., Daniel Hernandez and Jose Malvido are on the Democratic ballot.
- The race initially appeared like a two-way contest between Grijalva and Hernandez, but Foxx has gained traction over the past two months.
- Daniel Butierez, Jorge Rivas and Jimmy Rodriguez are seeking the Republican nomination.
Meet the candidates:
Adelita Grijalva is widely viewed as the frontrunner. She's a political fixture in Tucson, after 20 years on the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) board and four years on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. She's also Raúl Grijalva's daughter.
- She touts herself as a progressive and boasts big-name endorsements, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Daniel Hernandez is a former state representative and former Sunnyside Unified School District board member. He previously ran in the neighboring 6th District and had a reputation as a moderate who worked with the Republican majority.
- He rose to prominence as an intern for U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, famously helping her after the 2011 shooting.
Deja Foxx, 25, is an activist and social media strategist.
- She began organizing at 16, pushing for updates to TUSD's sex-ed policy, and went viral for confronting then-Republican U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake over voting to defund Planned Parenthood.
Between the lines: Grijalva said there's a "progressive vs. moderate" dynamic between her and Hernandez, telling Axios: "A lot of people in this community want to continue to have a strong, progressive voice that they can count on."
- She said she shares her father's values but "stands on [her] own two feet."
- Hernandez said he built a strong legislative record despite GOP control. He rejects the moderate label, telling Axios: "I work on guns, gays and abortion."
The intrigue: Grijalva may have Ocasio-Cortez's endorsement, but Newsweek called Foxx the "next AOC."
- Foxx describes herself as the race's change candidate and says she wants to show Democrats that "young disruptors are winners."
- She says she's energizing young voters who might otherwise sit out.
What's next: The primary is July 15, and the general election will be Sept. 23.