Hernández, Grijalva, and Foxx Locked in Tight Dem CD7 Primary Battle

Today, July 15, 2025, Southern Arizona voters will flock to the polls in the special primary election to fill the seat left vacant after U.S. Congressman Raúl Grijalva passed away on March 13, 2025. This special election marks the first open congressional race in over two decades. Early voting numbers indicate robust engagement, with approximately 49,000 Democrats and over 14,000 Republicans casting ballots. Early indicators reflect unusually high turnout for a special election.

The Democrat primary features a competitive field led by Daniel Hernández, who has raised $981,000, followed closely by Adelita Grijalva, the late congressman’s daughter, with $834,000 ($128,000 cash on hand) and Deja Foxx with $600,000 ($100,000 remaining). The strong fundraising and active campaigning signal a tight race, with Foxx potentially riding a wave of youth-driven turnout to challenge the frontrunners. Democrats hold a nearly 2-to-1 voter registration advantage in CD 7, but pundits suggest late-breaking Republican turnout could narrow the gap, making tonight’s results unpredictable.

On the Republican side, Daniel Butierez leads the pack, bolstered by $180,000 in self-loans and $98,000 cash on hand, outpacing competitors Jorge Rivas and Jimmy Rodriguez. Despite the Democratic voter edge, GOP candidates are banking on energized voters to make the primary competitive.

Allegations of election impropriety have rocked the race. State Rep. Rachel Keshel filed a formal complaint with Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes and state election officials, accusing an immigrant-rights group aligned with Grijalva’s team of illegally collecting, bundling, and delivering ballots on behalf of voters who were not family members. Keshel called the actions a “threat to election integrity,” demanding an immediate investigation to ensure compliance with state law. “The public deserves to know exactly who handled each ballot, when it was dropped off, and whether those procedures reflect our state laws,” Keshel stated, emphasizing “zero tolerance” for any lack of transparency in vote collection. She insists that any irregularities must be resolved before results are certified.

Two-thirds of Americans don’t trust that elections are free and fair. Both Democrats and Republicans want to ensure that their votes count in the primary and general elections.

Election integrity is NOT just a Republican demand. It’s an American citizen demand.

We demand… pic.twitter.com/h6csZnDoXk

— AZ Representative Rachel (Jones) Keshel (@RJ4arizona) July 11, 2025

Tonight’s results will determine the party nominees for the September general election, but their impact extends beyond CD 7. The outcome could shape Arizona’s ongoing debates over mail-in voting, ballot collection laws, and election accountability as the state heads toward the 2026 midterm elections. If Keshel’s complaint triggers a formal probe or if Foxx’s youth-driven momentum shifts the Democratic race, the primary could come down to razor-thin margins.