🔥 When Truth Cuts Through Political Theater: What CD7's Democratic Debate Revealed About Gaza, Corporate Money, and Real Resistance

José Malvido brought Gaza to the debate stage twice—here's why that matters in Raytheon's backyard

Jun 11, 2025

😽 Keepin’ It Simple Summary for Younger Readers
👧🏾✊🏾👦🏾

🖐️ Five Democrats are running to replace a congressman who died, and they had a debate where they answered tough questions about immigration raids happening in schools, healthcare cuts that would hurt 200,000 people, and whether politicians should take money from big companies.

🤔 One candidate kept bringing up how America is helping fund a war in Gaza that has killed over 40,000 people, which most politicians won't talk about. 🗣️ Another candidate asked everyone to promise not to take corporate money, and only one person refused to make that promise.

💰 The debate showed that some candidates are willing to tell uncomfortable truths about war and money in politics, while others stick to safer topics. 💬

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Who Had the Courage to Call It What It Is? A Deep Dive into the CD7 Democratic Primary Debate

¿Quién tuvo el valor de decir la verdad? Who had the courage to speak truth to power when it mattered most?

On June 10th, 2025, five Democratic candidates gathered at Arizona Public Media for what was billed as a crucial debate for Arizona's 7th Congressional District—a seat left vacant after the passing of longtime progressive champion Raúl Grijalva.

What unfolded was a revealing window into the soul of the Democratic Party, and frankly, hermanos, it left me with mixed feelings about where we're headed.

The Elephant in the Room: Gaza and the Silence That Speaks Volumes

Let's cut to the chase.

In a district that's home to Raytheon Missiles—the very company that manufactures the weapons being used in what can only be called a genocide in Gaza—only one candidate had the cojones to call it what it is.

José Malvido Jr., the Indigenous Chicano scholar working on his doctorate at the University of Arizona, was the only candidate during both debates (this one and the earlier one) to directly address the elephant in the room. When the topic came up, Malvido didn't mince words about "the genocide by Israel" and called out his fellow candidates for their support of it.

¡Órale! Finally, someone willing to speak truth to power.

This matters, raza. This matters more than you might think.

While politicians dance around language and diplomatic niceties, Raytheon in Tucson is making billions from this carnage. According to the Cronkite News investigation, Raytheon employs 15,000 Arizonans and has been the primary manufacturer of the Iron Dome defense system in partnership with the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. The company's stock has surged 82.69% since October 7th, outperforming the S&P 500 by 46%.

Let that sink in: our neighbors are getting rich off Palestinian blood, and most of our candidates won't even acknowledge what's happening.

Who Is José Malvido Jr.? The Scholar-Activist We Need

While other candidates discussed their political résumés, Malvido brings something different to the table. He's Xicano, Yoeme (Yaqui), and Tohono O'odham—a man whose very existence challenges the colonial borders that divide our communities.

Since 2017, he's served as Director of Community Services at Chicanos Por La Causa, managing programs that include family immigration services, elderly transportation, youth support, and community health initiatives.

However, his work extends beyond bureaucracy. As the North American coordinator of Peace and Dignity Journeys since 2000, he's part of an intercontinental spiritual movement working to unite Indigenous peoples from Alaska to Panama.

This is someone who understands that the border doesn't just run through our communities—it runs through our families, our sacred sites, our very identity. Congressional District 7 includes the Tohono O'odham Nation, whose ancestral territory was brutally bisected by the U.S.-Mexico border following the 1853 Gadsden Purchase.

Who better to represent these communities than someone who carries their blood and their struggles in his very DNA?

The Debate Breakdown: What They Said and What They Didn't

Daniel Hernandez: The Miners & AIPAC Choice

Hernandez opened strong with a personal narrative—his mother Consuelo watching live, his own health struggles, and his legislative record. "My name is Daniel Hernandez, and I'm running for Congress because right now we are in a crisis, and what we need most is bold new leadership," he said.

When the topic of corporate money came up later in the debate, it was telling that when Deja Foxx challenged all candidates to commit to refusing corporate PAC money, Hernandez was notably the only one who didn't raise his hand.

I like Daniel, and we can agree on many things. Still, if you read Three Sonorans regularly, you will know that we do not like what is going on in Gaza, nor starting a war with Iran because Netanyahu is a warmonger, nor with the foreign mining corporations trying to destroy indigenous sacred land, as at Oak Flat.

If you are hardcore pro-Israel, vote for Daniel. If you want Resolution and Rosemont mines. Just keeping it 💯.

Adelita Grijalva: Legacy Politics Aren't Enough

Adelita opened with fire: "We have a president who is using the military against civilians because they're exercising their right to protest. The most dangerous threat to our American democracy is Trump." Strong words, but where was this energy when it came to challenging the military-industrial complex in her own backyard?

Look, I have respect for Adelita's work, but let's be real about her record. During her 20-year tenure on the TUSD board, enrollment declined dramatically by about 1,000 students per year—and that's not some unfair attack, that's documented reality.

When she says her school board position was "volunteer," that's technically misleading—you run for office, you get elected, it's unpaid, but it's not a volunteer position. Words matter, especially when you're asking for our trust.

The daughter of a legend doesn't automatically inherit the mantle of leadership. Raúl Grijalva was irreplaceable because he earned his place through decades of fighting for la causa.

Legacy politics won't save us in this moment.

With that said, if I had to bet right now, the chances are that the Establishment Candidate with the right last name, such as a Bush or a Clinton, will most likely win. But A. Grijalva still won’t save us in this moment, just as she couldn’t save Mexican American Studies from being banned in TUSD, never using the power of the federal desegregation order to trump the unconstitutional state law, and at the same time, defending Superintendent John Pedicone, who was appeasing Tom Horne.

Deja Foxx: The Storyteller

Foxx has a compelling personal narrative—raised by a single mom, relying on Section 8, SNAP benefits, Medicaid, working at a gas station, and experiencing homelessness. "When I was a teenager, I needed a fighter, so I became one," she declared.

However, here's what Deja Foxx doesn't mention in her stump speech:

She attended an Ivy League university and built a successful social media influencer career, boasting over 250,000 followers and major brand partnerships. She has also just raised $400,000 for her campaign.

None of that negates her story or her struggles, but the selective storytelling feels a bit... calculated?

When she challenged candidates to commit to refusing corporate PAC money—"Is anyone willing to join me in that commitment? Now you know who everyone on this stage works for"—it was a powerful moment. Everyone raised their hand except Hernandez.

Fox opened with what's become her signature line: "I didn't pick politics, politics picked me." Órale, that's some convenient rhetoric right there.

You know who never said that?

César Chávez when he was organizing farmworkers.
Martin Luther King Jr. when he was leading the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Dolores Huerta when she was fighting for la causa.

These leaders understood something Fox seems to miss: there is a difference between being called to organize one's community and being called to politics—the game of power, compromise, and, yes, eventually selling out for the right donor check or endorsement.

Community organizing is about building power from the bottom up. Politics is about climbing ladders that were built by the very systems that oppress our people.

When it comes to making a change in the Ward 3 race this year, did Deja follow her own advice and endorse the exciting progressive young black woman and community leader, or working for the entrenched older white man already in office?

It’s like all her talk about change and younger generations only applies to her, with a hint of narcissism.

When you say "politics chose me" while sitting on a $400,000 war chest and building your brand as a social media influencer, ¿a quién le estás mintiendo? Who are you lying to? Yourself or us?

Real organizers know the difference between fighting the system and joining it. They know that the moment you start playing by the rules of electoral politics, you've already begun the process of compromise that will eventually distance you from the communities you claim to represent.

And you know what, Deja?

You know who else was homeless with a similar story to yours? Kyrsten Sinema. Piénsalo. Think about it.

Patrick Harris Sr.: The Cap-the-Cap Crusader

Harris thinks he's cleverer than he actually is, pero at least he has actual policy proposals. His "cap the cap" idea—limiting personal wealth to $1 billion and requiring reinvestment of anything above that—is interesting in theory. However, his presentation sometimes felt more like performance art than serious policy discussion.

When asked about fighting Trump's tariffs, Harris somehow managed to work in his capitated capitalism block: "You're only allowed to join if you're not at war, President Putin."

Órale, Patrick, we get it, you have a plan.

José Malvido Jr.: The Voice of Conscience

And then there's Malvido, who cut through the political theater with uncomfortable truths. When discussing the erosion of democratic institutions, he said:

"Right now, Trump is consolidating and pulling power from the legislature, the legislative branch, and the judicial branch, and putting it all together in order to become a tyrant."

But it was his willingness to name the genocide that set him apart. "Daniel and Adelita support the genocide by Israel," he said plainly during one exchange. "We need new leadership and we need... When we're talking about steering the party ahead, we need to have the truth."

¡Eso es! That's what courage looks like.

The Corporate Money Question: Follow the Money, Find the Truth

When Fox asked candidates to commit to refusing corporate PAC money, the responses told us everything:

Fox: ✅ (initiated the challenge)
Grijalva: ✅
Malvido: ✅
Harris: ✅
Hernandez: ❌ (notably did not raise his hand)

According to reporting by The Arizona Republic, Hernandez holds an initial fundraising lead "stemming from large donations made by donors affiliated with the pro-Israel" lobby.

The Environmental Stakes: More Than Oak Flat

The debate touched on environmental justice, including the critical issue of Oak Flat mining. Grijalva committed to standing with Oak Flat and Apache Stronghold, earning endorsements from the Sierra Club, founded by John Muir, a white supremacist, and the League of Conservation Voters.

Malvido said, because they limited his time after skipping him earlier on, the hosts ignoring Native Americans like Trump and the Supreme Court are this month with the Apaches at Oak Flat: "I support the indigenous peoples at Oak Flat. I've done for years."

But here's what's missing from this conversation: Environmental justice isn't just about stopping mines. It's about stopping the entire war machine that's poisoning our communities while enriching corporations. It's about recognizing that the same systems destroying Gaza are destroying indigenous communities here.

Harris shared a personal story about his brother being disabled by mining accidents, pointing to the Berkeley Pit in Montana as an example of mining's devastating environmental legacy. "We live in the desert. Mining can destroy people, families, communities, and the environment."

Immigration: Beyond the Border Wall Theater

On immigration, the candidates largely agreed on the need for comprehensive reform, pathways to citizenship, and protection of DACA recipients. But Malvido brought a crucial perspective often missing from these discussions: the border doesn't just divide nations, it divides indigenous communities.

"We have a strong border, and one thing that isn't talked about is the abuse of Border Patrol of people on the reservation. They cut down fences, they harass people. In order to build this wall, they destroyed a sacred site called Quitobaquito," Malvido pointed out.

This is the kind of analysis we need—one that understands the border not as an abstract policy issue, but as a lived reality for indigenous communities who never consented to these imposed divisions.

Healthcare: Personal Stories and Systemic Solutions

The healthcare discussion revealed the human stakes behind policy debates. Foxx spoke about families choosing between bills and cancer treatment:

"I sat with a young woman whose family had to make hard decisions when her mother was diagnosed with cancer on if they would make the bills this month or delay care. She lost her mother due to delayed care."

Hernandez shared his own story:

"When I was 17 years old, I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder called Graves' Disease, and I almost died because I didn't have access to health care."

Malvido advocated for Medicare for All, emphasizing the role of federally qualified health centers and the importance of addressing chronic diseases through prevention. "60% of the people in the country have one of three chronic diseases, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and high blood pressure, and these are all preventable diseases."

What the Numbers Tell Us

Let's talk facts, because facts matter in the borderlands:

TUSD enrollment declined significantly during much of Grijalva's tenure on the school board
Raytheon's stock surged 82.69% in the year following October 7th
CD7 includes over 200,000 people who rely on Medicaid
The district covers parts of the Tohono O'odham Nation, which spans 2.8 million acres

The Elephant in Our Living Room: Raytheon and Gaza

Here's what we need to talk about, but nobody wants to say out loud: Tucson is complicit in genocide.

Raytheon Missiles & Defense is our largest private employer, with over 12,000 workers. The Iron Dome interceptors being used to justify Israel's bombardment of Gaza? Made right here in Tucson.

When protesters held die-ins at the Raytheon compound, blocking the entrance with signs reading "From Palestine to O'Odham Land: Resist Colonialism," they understood something most politicians don't: these struggles are connected.

As one Indigenous protester told Unicorn Riot: "I personally come from a land that has been colonized, and I've seen how that really hurts a people and I've seen how I have lost my ancestry because of colonization. And I'm scared for the Palestinian people, and I want to stand with them to make sure that they have their land to continue to live on and tell their story."

The Courage to Name What Is

In an era when politicians often speak in euphemisms and diplomatic doublespeak, José Malvido Jr. did something revolutionary: he told the truth. He called the mass killing in Gaza what it is—genocide.

He called out his fellow candidates for their complicity. He centered Indigenous perspectives in discussions of border policy and environmental justice.

This isn't about ideological purity or progressive posturing. This is about having the moral clarity to name injustice when you see it, even when it's uncomfortable, even when it challenges the donors writing checks to your campaign.

A Note of Hope: La Lucha Sigue

Despite everything—despite the corporate money, despite the political theater, despite the complicity in genocide—I still believe in the power of our communities to create change because I've seen it happen.

I've seen Indigenous water protectors stop pipelines. I've seen immigrant rights activists shut down detention centers. I've seen young people organize their schools and change the world.

The question isn't whether change is possible; it's whether it's desirable. The question is whether we'll have the courage to demand it from our representatives.

How to Get Involved: Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power

The special primary election is July 15, 2025. The general election is September 23, 2025. But your power extends far beyond election day.

Research the candidates: Don't just listen to their stump speeches; investigate their records and platforms. Look at their funding sources. Look at their endorsements. Look at their actual records.
Attend forums and debates: Ask the hard questions. Demand specifics. Challenge them to take real positions on issues that matter.
Support grassroots organizing: Whether it's immigrant rights, environmental justice, or anti-war activism, find the organizations doing the work and support them.
Hold elected officials accountable: Once someone wins, the real work begins. Keep pressure on them to fulfill their promises.
Build alternative media: Corporate media won't always tell our stories. Support independent journalism, like Three Sonorans Substack, that centers on borderlands perspectives and keeps it real about power and politics.

La lucha sigue, but the warriors change. The question is: which warriors will we choose?

Three Sonorans is an independent voice for the borderlands, providing sharp analysis and authentic perspectives on politics, culture, and resistance in Southern Arizona. Support our work by subscribing to our Substack and sharing our articles with your networks.

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What questions do you have about the CD7 race? What issues do you think candidates should be addressing that they're not? Drop your thoughts in the comments below—we want to hear from you.