Early voting begins today 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 Tuscon, 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.

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🗓️ Mark your calendar with our Event Board.

Phoenix Date Night Scavenger Hunt at Orpheum Lofts on June 12: Get ready to laugh, learn and explore as you navigate through historic buildings, epic sculptures, and bustling green spaces. As they wander through the streets of Phoenix, you'll be amazed by the rich history and culture that surrounds you.

Hosting an event? Email [email protected].

The Arizona Department of Economic Security is laying off around 400 workers — about 5% of its staff — due to federal cuts. (ABC15)

⚖The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will file a counterclaim against County Recorder Justin Heap to settle who has authority over election duties, and to ask a judge to throw out the lawsuit he filed against the board last week. (Phoenix New Times)

⚾ Legislation to provide public funding for Chase Field renovations has enough votes to pass, Senate President Warren Petersen told KTAR host Mike Broomhead. (Arizona Sports)

🗳 Democrat Nick Mansour, former chair of the Arizona College of Nursing, announced his candidacy for state treasurer. (KJZZ)

• Elijah Norton is the lone candidate on the Republican side.

👀 A person who pointed a gun at "No Kings" protesters over the weekend after a physical altercation hasn't been charged with a crime, but an investigation is ongoing. (AZcentral)

Summer days have always been notoriously hot in the Valley, and nightfall is offering increasingly less relief from the heat.

The big picture: Summer evenings are warming up across much of the U.S. amid climate change, and in Phoenix especially, a new analysis from Climate Central shows.

By the numbers: Average Phoenix summer nighttime temperatures increased by 6.5°F between 1970-2024.

Zoom out: 96% of the 241 locations analyzed by Climate Central experienced higher nighttime summer temperatures during that period.

• Among cities with an increase, temperatures rose 3.1°F on average.
• The biggest increases were in Reno, Nevada (17.7°F); Las Vegas (10); El Paso, Texas (8.9); Salt Lake City (8.2) and Tyler, Texas (7.8).