Arizona congressman Raul Grijalva, a Democrat, has died after complications from cancer treatment. He was 77.
The longtime lawmaker had recently won re-election to a 12th House term, handily defeating his Republican opponent. The son of non-English speaking immigrants, Grijalva was known for his strident liberalism, and particularly his advocacy for immigrants and environmentalism.
A special election will be held in Grijalva’s mostly Hispanic district, one of the most heavily Democratic in Arizona. He is the second House Democrat to die in recent days, after Sylvester Turner (Tx.) passed away.
Grijalva had sought another term last year, and won, despite lung cancer that forced him to miss hundreds of votes. He said the election would be his last.
“More than two decades ago, Rep. Grijalva embarked on a journey to be a voice for Southern Arizonans in Washington, D.C,” a statement from his office said. “Driven by his community values and spirit, he worked tirelessly and accomplished so much — for Arizona and for the country.”
“From permanently protecting the Grand Canyon for future generations to strengthening the Affordable Care Act, his proudest moments in Congress have always been guided by community voices,” Grijalva’s office said.
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY.). called Grijalva, who served on the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and led the Congressional Progressive Caucus for a decade, a “giant.”
“Congressman Grijalva represented his community fiercely, keeping his constituents and the climate at the center of everything he did,” Jeffries added.
Just hours before his untimely death, Grijalva’s X account was sounding off on President Trump's efforts to downsize the federal government.
“President Trump’s latest reckless decision to fire thousands of employees at the Department of Education jeopardizes critical student aid programs, weakens protections for students’ civil rights, and undermines essential support for students with disabilities,” a statement on his X account read.
“Trump and Musk are prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy over the future of our students. It’s selfish, and it’s illegal.”
Grijalva entered Congress in 2003, and became known as an early critic of the Iraq War. Before his career in Washington, Grijalva received a degree in sociology and served on the Pima County Board of Supervisors. His daughter Adelita, a current supervisor on the board, called Grijalva the “smartest person I’ll ever know — a fighter until the end.”
He is survived by his wife and three daughters.
