Latina Power Surge: Adelita Grijalva Wins Arizona Democratic Primary
In a race that spotlighted generational divides and questions about political legacies, Adelita Grijalva emerged as the decisive winner in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District Democratic primary. Her victory, which sets the stage for the September 23 special general election, comes months after the death of her father, longtime Congressman Raúl Grijalva.
Legacy, youth, and progressive values shaped the Democratic race
According to The Guardian, Adelita Grijalva, 54, beat Gen Z activist Deja Foxx by nearly 40 percentage points. She led in all seven counties in the district, including Pima County, where Tucson is located. The Associated Press projected her win with roughly 62 percent of the vote.
The primary was seen as a test of the Democratic Party’s generational divide. Foxx, a 25-year-old digital strategist and reproductive rights advocate, positioned herself as a rising leader and challenged what she called “legacy last name” politics. In a statement to The Guardian, she argued, “Political roles shouldn’t be inherited.”
But Adelita Grijalva pushed back on those claims. “I’m not using my dad’s last name. It’s mine, too,” she told The Guardian. “I’ve worked in this community for a very long time – 26 years at a nonprofit, 20 years on the school board, four years and four months on the board of supervisors. I’ve earned my last name, too.”
Adelita Grijalva’s win comes with strong endorsements and deep experience
Grijalva entered the race as the frontrunner. Axios reported she had support from high-profile progressives, including Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders, and Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly. Her platform emphasized protecting Medicaid and Medicare, immigrant rights, and defending democracy.
According to CBS News, Grijalva served for two decades on the Tucson Unified School District Board and four years on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. She also spent 26 years working for a Tucson-based nonprofit.
In a press statement shared by Axios, she said, “We didn’t get distracted by the noise or national headlines. We kept our heads down, did the work, and delivered a message rooted not just in fighting back against a dangerous and tyrannical administration, but in fighting for something: for our democracy, for the dignity of working people, and for the values that truly define Southern Arizona.”
Deja Foxx made waves as a Gen Z candidate, but couldn’t close the gap
Foxx, who once led influencer strategy for Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2020 campaign, ran on a platform grounded in personal experience. According to The Associated Press, she highlighted how government housing, subsidized health care, and food assistance helped raise her family. She also went viral for confronting Senator Jeff Flake over Planned Parenthood funding when she was just 16.
Foxx received support from David Hogg’s PAC, Leaders We Deserve, which aims to challenge establishment candidates. She told the AP, “You can expect me to be outspoken, to be an obstructionist to Donald Trump” if elected.
Still, Adelita Grijalva maintained a commanding lead. The Guardian reported that she consistently outperformed her competitors across the district’s counties, including its heavily Democratic areas.
What the future holds
Grijalva will face Republican nominee Daniel Butierez in the general election on September 23. CBS News reported that Butierez, a painting company owner, previously received more than one-third of the vote in a 2024 challenge against Raúl Grijalva.
Although the seat won’t decide control of the U.S. House, it is one of three vacancies that could chip away at Republicans’ narrow majority. The Associated Press noted that Democrats outnumber Republicans by nearly two to one in the 7th District, making Grijalva a strong favorite.
According to The Guardian, Butierez once served time in prison but was later found to have been wrongly convicted. He has since rebuilt his life and credits religion for his turnaround. He supports Trump-era tax cuts and immigration enforcement but opposes targeting schools and churches.
Still, the odds are stacked in favor of Adelita Grijalva. As Axios reported, her deep local ties, political experience, and progressive endorsements signal continuity for a district long shaped by her father’s influence.
And while the name on the ballot may be familiar, Adelita Grijalva has made it clear: she sees this win as her own.
