Adelita Grijalva emerged victorious on Tuesday, clinching the Democratic nomination for the U.S. House seat previously held by her father, Raúl Grijalva, who passed away in March. Her win, which came from a highly contested Arizona primary, underscores significant divisions within the party concerning age, experience, and dynastic politics. The former Pima County supervisor is now the frontrunner for the special election scheduled for September, aiming to fill the seat of the late liberal icon Raúl Grijalva, who succumbed to lung cancer complications at the age of 77.
In a pivotal Democratic primary, Adelita Grijalva, aged 54, secured approximately 62% of the votes, defeating four other candidates, including 25-year-old Gen Z activist and content creator Deja Foxx, who garnered nearly 21% of the vote. Foxx's campaign was rooted in advocating for generational change and challenging the established political order. The outcome of this primary reflects a growing trend within the Democratic Party, particularly following a series of closely watched primaries this year that have revealed mixed signals about the party's future direction as it seeks to recover from significant electoral losses in 2024.
Notably, Grijalva's victory parallels the recent upset win of 33-year-old Zohran Mamdani in New York's Democratic primary for mayor, signaling an appetite for youthful, progressive candidates. In contrast, primaries for governor in New Jersey and Virginia favored centrist Democratic candidates, illustrating the diverse ideological landscape of the party.
Having served on the Pima County governing board, Adelita Grijalva was long viewed as a strong candidate to succeed her father. With nearly 65% of the votes counted, she emerged as the clear favorite against Republican nominee Daniel Butierez this fall, especially given the district's strong Democratic leanings. If successful, Grijalva would make history as the first Latina to represent Arizona in Congress. “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 in her post-election remarks.
The Arizona primary illustrated a shift from ideological divides to generational ones. Both Grijalva and Foxx campaigned on left-leaning platforms, with endorsements from prominent figures such as Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for Grijalva, while Gen Z activist David Hogg supported Foxx. Grijalva emphasized her commitment to honoring her father's legacy, while her opponents, including Foxx, critiqued the notion of inheriting a congressional seat. Additionally, former state House member Daniel Hernandez, who played a pivotal role in saving then-Rep. Gabby Giffords’ life during a mass shooting, also participated in the Democratic race.
The race raised questions about whether Foxx could replicate Mamdani's surprise victory, as her anti-establishment message struggled to resonate against Grijalva’s established support from liberal groups and leaders. Despite sharing a well-known political surname akin to former New York governor Andrew M. Cuomo, Grijalva’s campaign did not carry the same controversies, positioning her advantageously in this off-cycle special election.
Foxx's performance illustrates the power of social media in modern campaigns, as she exceeded expectations by finishing a strong second, thanks in part to her online fundraising and mobilization strategies. Her campaign served as a test case for how influencers and content creators can engage younger voters, even as she ultimately fell short against Grijalva’s more traditional campaign tactics.
Foxx adopted innovative approaches to connect with voters, including collaborations with progressive media outlets like Meidas Touch and the Lincoln Project, and a docuseries documenting her campaign. These efforts showcased her attempts to build momentum but ultimately could not compete with Grijalva's established political coalition, which included endorsements from both of Arizona’s senators, Emily’s List, the Progressive Caucus, and the Working Families Party.
The Arizona race marks the second Democratic special election primary this year where an establishment candidate, closely aligned with a deceased former member, triumphed over challengers running on similar policy platforms but with an anti-establishment message. Recently, James Walkinshaw, a Fairfax County Supervisor, won the Democratic nomination to succeed Gerry Connolly, another member who passed away in office, underscoring the advantages of established political connections in these competitive races.
