🤴🏽 The Kingmaker's Legacy: Democracy, Succession, and the Future of Arizona's CD-7
How will the sudden vacancy in Congress reshape the political landscape and who might step up to carry on Grijalva’s work?
😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾
A long-time leader from Arizona named Raul Grijalva recently passed away 🕊️, which means someone new needs to take his spot in Congress. This is important because the person who gets chosen will help make important decisions on things like taking care of the environment 🌿 and helping people who live near borders 🌍. Many people believe his daughter, Adelita Grijalva, might want to take his place, but there are others who could also be considered. It's up to the people in the community to choose someone who will do the best job by listening to everyone's ideas 💡 and working for the good of all.
🗝️ Takeaways
🌩️ Impact of a Kingmaker: Raul Grijalva's passing leaves a significant gap in Arizona politics, requiring strategic decisions on succession.
🏛️ Potential Successor: Adelita Grijalva, the Congressman's daughter, is a likely candidate, but the district seeks genuine choice beyond familial ties.
🔄 Democratic Dynamics: The situation highlights tensions in democracy between honoring legacies and embracing fresh leadership.
🗳️ Importance of Participation: Voter engagement is crucial to select a representative who truly reflects the district's priorities and values.
🌿 Key Policy Issues: The next representative will handle critical topics like environmental protection, immigration, and indigenous rights.
The Kingmaker's Legacy: Democracy, Succession, and the Future of Arizona's CD-7
¿Quién sigue? The question hangs in the air like monsoon humidity – heavy, unavoidable, charged with potential energy. Who follows the man who shaped Tucson politics for half a century? Who steps into the void left by Congressman Raul Grijalva?
Last week, everything changed. What was once a measured conversation about a 2026 open seat transformed overnight into an urgent political reality when the longtime Congressional District 7 representative died, leaving behind both a grieving family and a political landscape forever altered.
The Man, The Myth, The Kingmaker
For those unfamiliar with Arizona politics, understanding Raul Grijalva's impact requires historical context. Born to a Mexican migrant worker, Grijalva's journey from Sunnyside High School student to powerful Congressional figure embodied the American dream for many in the borderlands. His political career spanned nearly 50 years, beginning with his election to the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) board just as the district's landmark desegregation case was beginning – a case that would stretch across decades.
Grijalva's ascent from school board member to Pima County Supervisor to U.S. Congressman traced a deliberate path of increasing influence. By the time he reached Congress in 2003, he had established himself as a progressive champion for environmental justice, indigenous rights, and immigrant communities. His leadership of the House Natural Resources Committee amplified his voice on critical issues affecting the Southwest.
But power always comes with complexities. While his voting record generally aligned with progressive values – including his controversial but principled call for an Arizona boycott after the passage of SB1070, the "show me your papers" law – his role as political kingmaker created divisions within the very community he championed. As with many long-serving politicians, loyalty became currency in Grijalva's Tucson, and those who crossed him often found themselves politically isolated.
El rey ha muerto. The king is dead. And now a community grapples with what comes next.
The Original Prediction: Regina's Rise
Before Grijalva's unexpected passing, political observers (myself included) had been eyeing Mayor Regina Romero as his natural successor for the 2026 election cycle.
The logic seemed clear and compelling:
Her recent political trajectory showed national momentum, with appearances at the Democratic National Convention and selection for a presidential envoy alongside First Lady Jill Biden to attend Claudia Sheinbaum's inauguration in Mexico
Her Yuma roots connected her to the western portion of CD-7, including the hometown of labor rights icon César Chávez
Her husband's position as Grijalva's top congressional aide suggested a seamless transition for constituent services
Her close relationship with civil rights legend Dolores Huerta aligned her with the district's progressive history
Her executive experience as Tucson's mayor demonstrated leadership capabilities beyond legislative roles
As the first Latina mayor of Tucson, Romero embodied both continuity and progress – honoring Grijalva's legacy while representing a new generation of leadership. The path seemed clear.
Then everything changed.
When Death Rewrites the Political Calculus
Governor Katie Hobbs has now called a special election, with primaries scheduled for July 15th. The compressed timeline and emotional circumstances have dramatically altered the political landscape. Within days of Grijalva's passing, a new narrative emerged:
Mayor Romero announced she would not seek the seat
Other potential candidates similarly stepped aside
Only one obvious potential candidate has remained conspicuously silent about their intentions: Adelita Grijalva, the Congressman's daughter
The silence speaks volumes. As County Supervisor, Adelita Grijalva has followed a political path strikingly similar to her father's – from TUSD board to county leadership. Now, the congressional seat that completed her father's journey appears within reach, should she choose to pursue it.
Reading Between the Political Lines
Even the cold calculations of artificial intelligence (take it with a grain of salt, but do not ignore it), when asked to analyze the patterns in Adelita's public statements, confirmed what many of us in the community had already felt in our bones:
"It appears highly likely that Adelita Grijalva will run for the Congressional District 7 seat left open by her father's passing. Here are the key points supporting this conclusion:
Political Trajectory: Adelita has followed a similar political path as her father, starting with the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) board, moving to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, and now potentially aiming for Congress. This suggests a deliberate and strategic progression in her political career. The post was from her "Adelita for Supervisor" site which suggests further political motivations.
Name Recognition: By retaining the Grijalva surname after marriage, Adelita has maintained a strong connection to her father's political legacy. This name recognition is a significant advantage in elections, especially in a district that has consistently supported the Grijalva family.
Community Support: The outpouring of support and the calls for her to run indicate a strong community desire for continuity in representation. Her acknowledgment of this support and her alignment with progressive values further suggest she is considering a run to continue her father's work.
Political Climate: The fact that other potential candidates are stepping aside likely reflects their recognition of Adelita's strong position and the likelihood of her running. This creates a clearer path for her candidacy.
Personal Considerations: While Adelita is currently focused on her family's grief and the need to honor her father's legacy, her statement indicates that she will make a decision after the funeral services. This suggests a thoughtful approach, balancing personal loss with political opportunity.
In summary, while Adelita has not yet made a formal announcement, the combination of her political trajectory, name recognition, community support, and the current political climate strongly suggests that she will run for the Congressional District 7 seat. Her decision to wait until after her father's funeral services indicates a respectful and measured approach to this significant decision."
La máquina ve lo que nosotros sentimos – the machine sees what we feel. But what matters isn't just what's predictable, but what's possible.
Political analysts point to multiple factors suggesting Adelita Grijalva will likely run:
Name Recognition: The Grijalva surname carries immense political weight in the district, representing five decades of progressive leadership.
Strategic Silence: While others have explicitly removed themselves from consideration, Adelita's careful statements have left the door conspicuously open.
Political Trajectory: Her career path has mirrored her father's early progression, suggesting a deliberate building of experience toward higher office.
Timing Considerations: Her measured approach – waiting until after funeral services before making any announcements – demonstrates both respect for her father and political savvy.
Power Vacuum: With no clear successor designated by the former "kingmaker," the family connection offers continuity in a moment of uncertainty.
The signs point to an Adelita candidacy, but the question remains: ¿Es esto lo que necesitamos? Is this what we need?
Beyond Blood: Democracy in the Border District
Let me be clear—this reflection isn't about Adelita Grijalva's capabilities or character. It's about process, democracy, and the future of a diverse district that deserves robust representation.
The tension here isn't unique to CD-7 or to the Grijalva family. It reflects a fundamental question in democratic systems: How do we balance continuity with change? How do we honor legacy while embracing new possibilities?
Adelita is not her father. Though she carries his name, her record reflects different priorities and approaches. During her TUSD tenure, the district lost approximately 1,000 students annually – a troubling trajectory that continued year after year. During the controversy surrounding Mexican American Studies (MAS), her leadership and support of the superintendent banning the successful program raised questions about her commitment to the cultural education programs her father had championed.
No es necesario que sea ella quien lo suceda. It is not necessary that she be the one to succeed him.
This is not monarchy, this is not dynastic succession, and this is—or should be—democratic selection.
The Power of True Democratic Choice
What the residents of CD-7 deserve is simple yet profound: authentic choice.
Democracy thrives when:
Multiple qualified candidates present their visions
Voters deliberate based on substantive differences
Political parties facilitate rather than predetermine outcomes
Community voices shape the conversation
Legacy enhances rather than determines candidacies
Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, also from Southern Arizona, may enter the race. Other community leaders might step forward. Some may have progressive credentials that align more closely with Grijalva's congressional record than his own daughter's does.
The point isn't who should win – that's for voters to decide. The point is that voters should have genuine options that extend beyond familial connections.
What This Means For You
If you live in Arizona's CD-7, this moment matters profoundly. Your next representative will shape policy on issues that directly impact borderland communities:
Environmental protections for fragile desert ecosystems
Immigration reform and border policy
Indigenous rights and tribal sovereignty
Federal investments in education and infrastructure
Healthcare access in underserved communities
Even if you live outside the district, this situation reflects broader patterns in American democracy – the tension between established political networks and grassroots representation, between continuity and change, between honoring history and creating new possibilities.
La democracia requiere participación. Democracy requires participation, not just on election day but also in the messy, complicated conversations that shape who appears on the ballot in the first place.
Looking Forward: What Comes Next
In the coming weeks, several key developments will shape this race:
Official Announcements: After Grijalva's funeral services conclude, expect formal declarations from candidates.
Endorsements: Watch for statements from key progressive organizations, labor unions, environmental groups, and Democratic Party leaders.
Policy Platforms: Analyze how candidates position themselves on issues central to the district's diverse communities.
Campaign Infrastructure: Notice which candidates quickly assemble professional teams and fundraising operations – often indicators of long-planned campaigns rather than spontaneous decisions.
Community Forums: Attend or watch candidate forums where direct comparison makes policy differences clear.
To stay informed, follow local news sources like the Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Sentinel, Arizona Public Media, and, of course, Three Sonorans.
A Final Reflection
Raul Grijalva's legacy deserves respect. His half-century of service shaped Tucson and southern Arizona in profound ways. The progressive values he championed in Congress—environmental justice, indigenous rights, and immigrant dignity—remain urgently important.
But the greatest tribute to democratic leadership isn't automatic succession. It's a vibrant democratic process.
Que gane el mejor candidato, no el apellido más reconocido. May the best candidate win, not merely the most recognized surname.
Whatever happens next, let it emerge from open conversation, substantive debate, and genuine community engagement. Let voters decide who best represents their values and priorities, whether that person carries the Grijalva name or represents an entirely new chapter in the district's story.
What do you think about the future of CD-7? Should family connections factor into political succession? How can communities balance honoring political legacies while ensuring open democratic processes? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
Also, I'm curious:
What qualities do you believe are most essential in the next representative for CD-7?
How has Raul Grijalva's work directly impacted your life or community, and what aspects of his legacy do you most want to see continued?
Second question: Raul was a wonderful example of a person who did everything he could for this community. Really you could say he gave his life for us, and I wish he had been able to stay longer. One of our sons used to fly often for work and says Raul always flew economy or economy-plus. Another son volunteered with him frequently. Raul was such a welcoming person. He was genuinely interested in you and not just looking for your vote. We will miss him forever.
The new representative has to be aware of the needs of the community, especially the Latino and indigenous communities, and needs to be principled, very communicative, and highly active at home in the way that Raul was. We voted for him for the school board, county supervisor, and Congress, and volunteered with him where we could.