Az Governor Announces CD7 Special Election in Wake of Grijalva’s Passing

Arizona’s 7th Congressional District seat was declared vacant following the death of Rep. Raul Grijalva, prompting Governor Katie Hobbs to announce a special election schedule. The primary is set for July 15, with the general election slated for September 23.

This proclamation was issued on Friday, just a day after the long-serving Democratic congressman passed away. Currently, no candidates have formally declared their intention to run for the vacated seat.

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, often thought to be a strong contender, confirmed she will not pursue the position. “Serving as mayor of Tucson is a distinct honor in these challenging times and is the best way for me to continue to work on behalf of Tucsonans,” she stated. Romero has garnered support from national Democrats, positioning herself for potential future opportunities.

Notably, a half-cent sales tax increase, which Romero advocated for, was overwhelmingly defeated by city voters, with the measure failing 70-30. Romero’s husband, Ruben Reyes, served as Grijalva’s District Director for many years.

Amid the speculation, another potential candidate lurks in the background—Adelita Grijalva, the congressman’s daughter and current Pima County Supervisor. However, she has yet to announce her candidacy.

Under U.S. law, members of the House of Representatives must be elected, with no provisions for appointments. In accordance with state law, Governor Hobbs was required to set the election dates within 72 hours of the seat becoming vacant. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes revealed that the state’s E-Qual portal for collecting nomination signatures will open on Monday.

The special primary must occur within 120 to 133 days following the vacancy, with the general election occurring 70 to 80 days thereafter. Even if the results are decisively clear after the September election, the new representative may only be seated after a formal canvass, which examines election integrity over the following weeks. This could leave CD7 without representation until early October.

It’s typically expected that congressional representatives reside within the districts they serve. However, this isn’t a constitutional requirement; they merely need to be residents of the state. For example, U.S. Rep. Eli Crane resides outside of Arizona’s CD2.