For Immediate Release, November 12, 2025

Contact: Stephanie Kurose, (202) 849-8395, [email protected]

Arizona’s Adelita Grijalva Sworn Into Congress After Unprecedented Delay

TUCSON, Ariz.— U.S. Rep. Adelita Grijalva was sworn into Congress today after a historic 50-day wait.

Grijalva won the special election for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District in September. Since then, House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to swear her in. The Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund sent Johnson a petition today with nearly 13,000 signatures demanding that he swear in Grijalva immediately.

“We’re thrilled that Adelita Grijalva can finally get to work taking on the Trump administration and his Republican puppets in Congress,” said Kierán Suckling, president of the Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund. “It’s absolutely unacceptable that Johnson refused to swear her in after she was duly elected by the people of Arizona. Adelita will be a champion for justice, democracy and our environment. She’s exactly who we need in Congress because she’ll stand up to Johnson and his ilk.”

Grijalva fills the seat of her father, Raúl Grijalva, who served in Congress for 23 years and passed away in March. The Center Action Fund endorsed Adelita Grijalva in June.

As a Pima County supervisor, Adelita Grijalva advocated for her community by protecting environmentally sensitive and culturally significant sites as well as promoting green infrastructure that ensures resiliency in the face of climate change. She also helped steer investments in affordable housing and worked on open space protection in the Sonoran Desert.

The Center Action Fund is a national nonprofit organization that advocates for legislation and legislators that will advance a progressive environmental agenda. The Center Action Fund is the 501(c)(4) affiliate of the Center for Biological Diversity, but these organizations’ names are not interchangeable. This news release is from the Center Action Fund, not the Center for Biological Diversity.