As discussions in Congress aim to conclude the government shutdown, the anticipated swearing-in of Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva may occur soon. The Arizona representative-elect, who secured her position in a special election seven weeks prior, is poised to succeed her late father, Raúl Grijalva, in Congressional District 7.
Despite her election victory, Grijalva has yet to communicate directly with House Speaker Mike Johnson regarding her official oath-taking. “I’ve had no direct communication with Speaker Johnson,” she conveyed via text.
Nonetheless, Grijalva is en route to Washington, D.C., following assurances from Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries that Johnson intends to swear her in as lawmakers deliberate on a new government reopening proposal. Speaker Johnson’s spokesperson confirmed these plans.
“This isn’t anything new. The speaker has said all along that he plans to swear in Rep. Elect Grijalva when Democrats vote to reopen the government,” Griffin Neal mentioned in an email, citing Johnson’s remarks from October.
Johnson emphasized his eagerness to administer the oath, stating, “Rep. Grijalva won her race in, I think it was the last week of September after we had already gone out of session. So I will administer the oath to her I hope on the first day we come back into legislative session. I’m willing and anxious to do that,” on October 20.
During a recent press conference, Johnson urged House members to return to Washington in preparation for a potential vote on the government reopening proposal, contingent on Senate approval, which could occur within 36 hours post-Senate decision.
Grijalva’s wait to take her seat surpasses that of any special election winner in the 21st century. She has openly criticized Johnson for the delay, stating, “This delay never should have never happened in the first place. For seven weeks, 813,000 Arizonans have been denied a voice and access to basic constituent services. This is an abuse of power that no Speaker should have.”
Grijalva also expressed her opposition to the Senate’s current spending deal, which lacks provisions to maintain Affordable Care Act insurance subsidies. Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego similarly oppose the measure.
“While I am eager to get to work, I am disappointed that one of my first votes will be on a bill that does nothing to protect working people from skyrocketing premiums, loss of health coverage, or do anything significant to rein in Trump’s abuse of power,” Grijalva stated.
Upon taking office, Grijalva is anticipated to provide the decisive 218th vote necessary for a House vote on the release of the Epstein files.
