Maricopa County Elections has released initial, unofficial results from the special primary election in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District showing Democrat Adelita Grijalva and Republican Daniel Francis Butierez Sr. as their parties’ nominees for the Sept. 23 general election.
Grijalva appears to have won the Democratic primary with 62% of the vote. Butierez led the Republican field with 60.7%.
The special election was called following the March 13 death of longtime U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, a prominent progressive who represented the district that runs from Tucson to Yuma to the southwest Valley or more than 20 years.
“This is a victory not for me, but for our community and the progressive movement my dad started in Southern Arizona more than 50 years ago,” said Grijalva, the late congressman’s daughter and chair of the Pima County Board of Supervisors. “We kept our heads down, did the work, and delivered a message rooted... in fighting for something: for our democracy, for the dignity of working people, and for the values that truly define Southern Arizona — justice, equity, and opportunity for all.”
On the campaign trail, Grijalva emphasized affordable housing, public-private partnerships, climate resiliency, and stronger social services. In primary debates, she drew on her record with Pima County and the Tucson Unified School District board to frame her candidacy as rooted in service and coalition-building.
“Trump is the clear and present danger, and our survival of our democracy is at stake,” she said during one debate, highlighting her support for Medicaid-funded student services, opposition to Oak Flat mining, and calls for sanctuary protections and immigration oversight.
Grijalva defended her community-based service and said the Democratic Party needed a balance of experience and new ideas.
Butierez, a small business owner and former inmate who has publicly discussed his wrongful conviction and recovery from addiction, focused his campaign on themes of personal redemption, border enforcement and conservative economic policy.
“Giving them an opportunity to work... gives them an opportunity to leave that life behind,” he said about addressing homelessness through work programs and use of vacant prisons.
Butierez also called for the completion of the border wall, stricter immigration enforcement, and supported Trump-era proposals on DACA and Medicaid reform.
“I’m absolutely amazed that we got this president there that’s actually doing it,” said Butierez. “Everybody always talks about doing this, and nobody ever does it. He’s doing it. Let’s let him do it.”
Butierez expressed skepticism of foreign aid, supported using tariffs as leverage, and tied budget reform to congressional term limits. On water, he proposed recycling wastewater for mining and agriculture and pledged to defend Arizona’s water rights.
The 7th Congressional District spans southern Arizona, including parts of Goodyear, Avondale, Litchfield Park, Yuma, Nogales and Tucson. About 59,000 Maricopa County residents are registered to vote in the district, and eight Vote Centers were open on Election Day.
The general election is scheduled for Sept. 23. A televised general election debate is planned for 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 26, hosted by the Arizona Media Association, Citizens Clean Elections Commission, RIESTER and Arizona Public Media.
Additional election details are available at elections.maricopa.gov. Check Independent Newsmedia in print and online yourvalley.net for continuing elections coverage.
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