Tucson, AZ – The special primary elections for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District concluded on July 15, 2025, with Adelita Grijalva securing the Democratic nomination and Daniel Butierez winning the Republican primary. These results set the stage for the general election on September 23, 2025, to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of long-time Democratic Representative Raúl M. Grijalva on March 13, 2025. The district, encompassing parts of Tucson and stretching south to the Mexican border, is considered a reliably Democratic stronghold.
In the Democratic primary, Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late Representative, emerged as the clear victor, garnering 33,104 votes, or 62.0% of the total, according to The New York Times. Her campaign emphasized a message of legacy and community voice, with Grijalva stating, “We did this juntos! This campaign knocked on 39,000 doors,” and acknowledging her father’s influence: “I stand on the shoulders of giants… Raúl Grijalva está presente.” Her victory was celebrated by over 300 supporters at Tucson’s El Casino Ballroom, where chants of “¡Sí se puede!” filled the air, as reported by AZ Luminaria.
Grijalva, a former Pima County supervisor, had strong backing from progressive groups and institutional Democrats, including endorsements from Arizona’s U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and organizations like EMILY’s List and Giffords, as noted by Wikipedia. Her opponents, Gen Z activist and social media influencer Deja Foxx, and former state Representative Daniel Hernandez, trailed significantly. Foxx secured 11,245 votes (21.1%), having raised over $600,000 through her extensive social media presence. Hernandez, who ran on a more centrist platform, received 7,638 votes (14.3%) and promptly congratulated Grijalva, urging his supporters to unite against “the extremism of the Trump administration and Republican-controlled Congress.”
On the Republican side, Daniel Butierez, a painting contractor, won his primary with 9,817 votes, accounting for 60.7% of the vote, according to The New York Times. This marks Butierez’s second attempt to secure the CD7 seat, having previously challenged the late Raúl Grijalva in 2024. Butierez hosted a watch party at Delicia’s Mexican Grill in Tucson, notable for its patriotic theme and the presence of candidates from opposing parties, including Green Party candidate Gary Swing and Democratic candidate Patrick Harris. Butierez expressed a desire for unity, stating, “I’m tired of fighting” and “We absolutely need to start working together,” as reported by AZ Luminaria. His primary opponents were Jorge Rivas, who received 4,058 votes (25.1%), and Jimmy Rodriguez, with 2,299 votes (14.2%).
The general election on September 23, 2025, will see Adelita Grijalva and Daniel Butierez face off. Given the district’s strong Democratic lean, Grijalva is widely favored to win. If elected, Grijalva has stated her immediate priorities would include reversing the Trump administration’s border emergency declaration and joining the progressive caucus. The outcome of this special election will determine who serves the remainder of the 119th United States Congress for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, with the elected representative serving through 2026.
