IN FOCUS - July 11, 2025

An election in July? 2025? 

Yep, early voting has actually been ongoing since June 18 across CD-7, the southwestern Arizona district that includes parts of Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties. Tuesday’s special election is just the Primary but will all but determine the successor to late Congressman Raúl Grijalva, as Republican challengers are rarely competitive in the deep blue district.

Five Democrats and two Republicans are on Tuesday’s ballot, with former Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva - the Congressman’s daughter - considered a heavy favorite. She has claimed endorsements from Democratic Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, along with an array of progressive groups.

Other top candidates include former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez and social media influencer Deja Foxx, a first-time candidate with a significant online following. Hernandez is competitive with Grijalva in fundraising and hails from his own political dynasty - sisters Alma and Consuelo Hernandez serve in the Legislature. Foxx, meanwhile, is running as a fresh voice with support from a national PAC that’s made waves for its support of progressive outsiders.

The race is Grijalva’s to lose, but anything can happen in a special election during the heat of an Arizona summer. The winners of Tuesday’s Primary will face-off in a special General Election on Sept. 23.