As of this week 813,000 voters in Arizona The 7th Congressional District, adjacent to the border with Mexico, will not be represented in Congress for a month. Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who easily won the district's September special election to fill her late father's seat, has not yet taken office as Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson delayed her swearing-in, citing the ongoing shutdown.
Tensions continue to mount around the vacant site. This week, Ms. Grijalva and the state of Arizona filed lawsuits against the Republican-led House of Representatives and Speaker Johnson, arguing that his refusal to fill her seat exceeded his legal authority.
“We are taking legal action because this is an abuse of power that undermines the foundations of our democracy and will set a dangerous precedent for the future,” Ms. Grijalva’s staff told The Monitor in an emailed response.
Why did we write this
Historically, representatives who win special elections often take the oath of office within days of winning. Now the noticeable delay is causing controversy and lawsuits.
In his 17-page documentArizona Attorney General Chris Mayes claims Speaker Johnson is abandoning representation for the residents of Arizona's 7th District. She and other Democrats accused the speaker of blocking Ms. Grijalva for political reasons, including preventing a vote to release records relating to Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier and convicted sex offender.
How unusual is this delay?
Typically, after winning a special election, elected representatives take the oath of office within hours or days of their victory.
“It's normal for the winner of a special election to head straight to Washington,” says Stephen Smith, a political science professor at Arizona State University and a leading scholar of congressional politics. “The winner always strives to be sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives as quickly as possible.”
But with the latest government shutdown becoming the second longest in US history (the longest was during the first Trump administration, in 2018-2019), Johnson decided to leave the House of Representatives in recess. Without a regular session of the House of Representatives, Ms. Grijalva will not be sworn in, he said.
Rejecting accusations that he was playing politics, Speaker Johnson has repeatedly blamed Democrats for the shutdown and therefore the delay. He cited the “Pelosi precedent,” referring to former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's seating arrangements for some newly elected Republican members after the House returned to full session. Mr Johnson also said he would swear in Representative-elect Grijalva when the House returns to a regular “legislative session” rather than an emergency “formal” session.
Although the House of Representatives does not meet regularly, the House of Representatives has held formal sessions every few days since the lockdown began on October 1. In April this year, Mr. Johnson swore in Florida's two Republican representatives, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, during a pro forma session, prompting resistance from Democrats over the move.
What is the political significance of this House seat and how does it relate to the Epstein case?
Every seat matters because the House of Representatives is now under very thin Republican control, with currently 219 Republicans and 213 Democrats. Republicans need near unanimity within their caucus to pass party-line legislation.
Ms. Grijalva's seat — and vote — is already key to passing the Epstein petition, which is opposed by the vast majority of House Republicans.
A total of 218 signatures are needed for the release petition to force a vote on the release of materials relating to Mr. Epstein, whose death in a prison cell in 2019 was attributed by investigators to suicide as he awaited trial on charges of sex trafficking of minors. He reportedly had long-standing connections with many influential people. including current President Donald Trump.
Before Ms. Grijalva's victory, a bipartisan group led by Republican Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Democrat Ro Khanna of California had collected 217 signatures. Ms. Grijalva pledged to become the 218th signature calling for the vote.
Although Democratic leaders have pointed to the Epstein files as the reason Mr. Johnson refused to swear Ms. Grijalva in, the speaker has repeatedly rejected that claim. “It has nothing to do with this at all,” he said at an Oct. 7 press conference.
What does this delay mean for voters in Arizona's 7th District?
The death of Ms. Grijalva's father, Rep. Raul Grijalva, in March left his seat vacant. But his office was not there. Under House rules that apply to any House member who dies, resigns or is expelled, the Arizona 7th District office remained open under the supervision of House Clerk Kevin McCumber. Despite the lack of formal voting representation, office staff remained in place, performing duties such as casework and making phone calls, until a new representative took over.
However, after Ms. Grijalva was elected, the office was closed. With the door closed, uncertainty looms for the 7th District Representative's office and her constituents. Dr. Smith suggests voters have been left without direct contact to express concerns, whether about votes in Congress or government programs under lockdown.
“You'll pick up the phone and dial a number and there'll be no answer on the other end,” Professor Smith says, referring to voters in the 7th District.
The lack of representation also affects the cities and counties that form the district.
“At a hearing, no one sits and asks administration officials questions about issues affecting your district,” says Professor Smith. “You are simply not represented in many aspects of Congress.”
