After Representative Raúl Grijalva passed away earlier this year, Arizona's Congressional District 7 will host a special election in 2025, however elections will not be held in the majority of Arizona districts.
Those running include Daniel Hernandez, a former state legislator who served under former Representative Gabby Giffords, and Adelita Grijalva, a former county supervisor and the daughter of the late congressman. Both are seen as strong candidates.
If elected, 25-year-old Deja Foxx, who is also running for the position, would be the youngest sitting member of Congress. Her political experience includes speaking at the 2024 Democratic National Convention and serving as an influencer strategist for Kamala Harris' 2020 presidential campaign.
Background and Early Political Involvement
Foxx, who was raised in Tucson by a single mother, has talked about how her family relies on federal assistance programs including Medicaid, SNAP benefits, and Section 8 housing help. She received a degree from Columbia University, making her the first person in her family to complete college.
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She became involved in politics when she was a teenager. Her conflict with then-Senator Jeff Flake over Planned Parenthood financing, which received millions of views online, brought her global exposure when she was just 19 years old. "Why would you deny me the American Dream?" she asked, challenging Flake's vote on funding for reproductive health.
She served as Harris's presidential campaign's Influencer Strategy head when she was 19. She spoke at the 2024 Democratic National Convention on topics such college loan debt, reproductive rights, and the cost of living.
Campaign Positioning
Although Foxx does not have any well-established campaign infrastructure or significant endorsements as Grijalva and Hernandez do, she highlights her capacity to engage younger voters on social media. She has positioned herself as a candidate who is interested in social programs and working families.
Reproductive rights, social assistance, affordable housing, and public education funding are among Foxx's policy priorities, which she attributes to making her access to school possible. She has stated, "I didn't pick politics, politics picked me," in reference to her venture into political activism.
The date of the special election is still pending.
