Voters in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District are casting ballots in a special election to fill the vacant seat left by the late U.S. Representative Raúl Grijalva, a Democrat who died in March from complications related to cancer treatment. The district, which spans Arizona’s southern border with Mexico, includes portions of Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties, as well as parts of Phoenix and Tucson.
The candidates in the race are Democrat Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late congressman, and Republican Daniel Butierez. Both secured their party nominations in July, with Grijalva earning 62% of the Democratic primary vote and Butierez winning 61% in the Republican primary.
This is the second time Butierez has faced a member of the Grijalva family. In the 2024 general election, he lost to Raúl Grijalva by a margin of over 72,000 votes. The winner of Tuesday’s special election will serve out the remainder of Raúl Grijalva’s term. The seat is not expected to affect control of the U.S. House of Representatives, where Republicans currently hold a narrow 219-213 majority.
Arizona’s 7th District has consistently leaned heavily Democratic. Since its creation in 2003, it has never elected a Republican representative. Nonpartisan election forecasters, including 270toWin, describe it as a “deep blue” seat, giving the Democratic candidate a significant advantage.
Campaign finance records show a stark disparity in fundraising. Adelita Grijalva has raised $1.3 million compared to Butierez’s $208,166, according to the Federal Election Commission.
During a recent debate, immigration and education policies were key points of contention. Adelita Grijalva criticized the current deportation practices by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), calling them inhumane, and supported a pathway to citizenship for noncitizens. Butierez agreed immigration reform is necessary but defended ICE agents, emphasizing that they are enforcing the law, not making policy.
On education, Grijalva opposed Arizona’s school voucher program, labeling it a threat to public education. Butierez backed the program and supported its expansion. On foreign policy, the candidates also diverged: Grijalva advocated for a two-state solution in the Middle East, while Butierez expressed unwavering support for Israel.
Voting will remain open until 7 p.m. Mountain Standard Time. The election is being closely watched as a measure of voter engagement in a district long considered safe for Democrats.
