Adelita Grijalva is poised to carry on her father’s legacy in areas like environmental justice, conservation and mining if she wins the special election to succeed him in representing southern Arizona in Congress. But she is facing a moderate challenger who supports mining as a way for Democrats to reconnect with the working class.
Grijalva, the 54-year-old daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D) entered the race in March to succeed him, weeks after his death from cancer complications. The former chair of the House Natural Resources Committee and the Congressional Progressive Caucus had served for 22 years.
“My dad was a fierce advocate not just for southern Arizona but for the environment, for public lands and for water. He understood deeply that especially in southern Arizona, water is life. He championed protections not because it’s popular but because it’s right,” the younger Grijalva told POLITICO’s E&E News in an interview.
That advocacy extends to her broad opposition of new mining projects, a position she linked with her father’s longtime goal of amending the 1872 General Mining Act to increase environmental protections and tribal consent, and keeping certain places off limits.
“It’s very personal to me to stand up against mining projects in the Santa Ritas, to stand with Apache Stronghold. You can’t undo it once it’s done,” she said.
Such stances stand in contrast with the candidate many consider to be a strong competitor, former state lawmaker Daniel Hernández Jr. (D). At a recent debate, he said Democrats were out of touch with working-class voters, pointing to a proposed copper mining projects in the state and the jobs they would bring.
“You can’t say you support workers if you don’t support the work,” he said. “I stand with workers and support their ability to put food on the table for them and their families.”
Whether that message resonates with voters remains to be seen. Statewide polls have shown overwhelming opposition to one copper mining project on sacred tribal lands.
Her other opponents in the race include activist Deja Foxx, retired businessman Patrick Harris and nonprofit executive Jose Malvido Jr. The district is heavily Democratic, so the winner of that primary is nearly guaranteed to win the Sept. 23 general election.
Hernàndez’s campaign did not respond to interview requests; Foxx was not available for an interview.
They’re vying to represent the 7th District, a sprawling constituency that stretches from Tucson and near Phoenix and runs nearly the entire length of the state’s border with Mexico.
‘In a strong position’
Grijalva has the upper hand in several areas, having racked up key endorsements from environmental groups and lawmakers, and, observers note, having the distinct advantage of her last name.
“There’s absolutely no doubt that the Grijalva name has been around for two generations, and so she has a huge, huge leg up on the competition. The name ID is half the game,” said Barrett Marson, a Republican political consultant based in Phoenix not affiliated with any candidate in the race.
Grijalva formerly served on the Tucson Unified School District and the Pima County Board of Supervisors — both positions her father previously held.
“I think she’s in a strong position to win,” said Adam Kinsey, a Phoenix-based Democratic strategist not working with any candidate in the race. “She’s been putting in the work, not just for the last 24 weeks, but for the last 24 years.”
There has been no public polling in the race, but Grijalva, Hernández and Foxx are considered the front-runners, said Marson. Grijalva and Foxx launched their campaigns too late for first-quarter fundraising figures. Hernàndez raised more than $320,000 in the eight days between his campaign launch and the March 31 deadline.
Hernández is also well known in the Tucson area. He came to national prominence in 2011 as an intern for then-Rep. Gabby Giffords (D); he helped her immediately after she was shot during a Tucson event, likely saving her life.
“If anyone can really challenge Adelita, it is Daniel Hernández. So I think he’s got a chance,” Marson said.
Hernández is running as a more moderate candidate. While he strongly backs LGBTQ and abortion rights and promised to be “Donald Trump’s worst nightmare,” he is vocally supportive of Israel in its war in Gaza, has a record of working with Republicans to advance legislation and was the only candidate at a recent debate to not swear off corporate political action committee contributions.
His support for controversial mining projects, including Hudbay’s proposed copper mine in the Santa Rita Mountains and Resolution Copper’s proposed mine in Superior, Arizona, was a major topic of disagreement at one debate.
“Right now, Democrats are out of touch with working-class Americans. That’s one of the reasons why we’ve lost elections — because politicians are not listening,” Hernández said when asked about those proposals.
Grijalva said one of her priorities should she win a seat would be to rewrite the country’s outdated mining laws.
“The current mining laws haven’t been updated in over 150 years,” she said. They leave communities, public lands and tribes completely behind. I’m committed to continuing the fight that my dad led to modernize the outdated 1872 mining law. I’ll fight for legislation that requires that royalties come back, that we have strong environmental standards and enforcement, that we have consultation with tribal nations and impacted communities.”
Grijalva said she would seek a spot on the Natural Resources Committee if she wins, as well as the Education and Workforce Committee.
Grijalva has won big-name endorsements, including from the Sierra Club, the League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Arizona Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC.
Endorsements roll in
Kinsey, the Democratic strategist, said the environmental endorsements are a testament to what Grijalva has done on her own, without just leaning on her father.
“It’s not at all surprising that she’s galvanizing the environmental community. And in the 7th District, that’s a pretty substantial community,” he said. “You can’t just cash in on your last name. You have to have been in the trenches with them, fighting alongside them. That’s what they see with Adelita.”
She has gotten union endorsements, including from locals of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America. Hernández has the backing of a local of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers.
Foxx, meanwhile, could likely chip away at Grijalva’s votes with her progressive campaign. The 25-year-old influencer, who also opposes mining projects, has presented herself as part of a new generation of politicians.
“It’s no secret that I don’t look like the other folks on this or in Congress,” she said at one debate, later calling Grijalva and Hernández “career politicians.”
“I believe that we need more than a politician. You deserve a fighter,” Foxx said.
Foxx applauded the elder Grijalva’s legacy, pointing out that he invited her to his office after her confrontation with then-Sen. Jeff Flake (R) at a town hall in 2017 went viral. “But this seat doesn’t belong to any one person or one family. It belongs to the people and families like mine,” she said.
At a recent debate, Griajlva made clear she’d follow in her father’s footsteps as an unapologetic progressive, but also argued that that’s because it is in line with what the district wants.
Asked if she would be another Grijalva, she said, “I am a Grijalva. So yes, I’m going to be a Grijalva.”
