Rep. Raul Grijalva, a long-serving Arizona Democratic congressman, died Thursday morning, March 13, 2025, at the age of 77 due to complications from lung cancer treatment, his office announced. The announcement comes just one week after the passing of late Texas Rep. Sylvester Turner.
Grijalva, who represented Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, had missed every vote since Jan. 3 and was just three months into his 12th term when he died. The progressive congressman is survived by his wife and three daughters.
“Rep. Grijalva fought a long and brave battle,” his office said in a statement. “More than two decades ago, Rep. Grijalva embarked on a journey to be a voice for Southern Arizonans in Washington, D.C. Driven by his community values and spirit, he worked tirelessly and accomplished so much — for Arizona and for the country.”
Grijalva publicly disclosed an unspecified cancer diagnosis last year but still ran for reelection in the 2024 primary and general elections, optimistic about the treatment he was receiving. He won handily against his Republican opponent in the general election.
After securing reelection last November, Grijalva quickly stepped down as the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, a position he had held with distinction. During his tenure as chair, he championed environmental protection, strengthened the Endangered Species Act, and introduced legislation to protect tribal lands.
His death impacts the balance of power in the House of Representatives, where Republicans previously could only afford to lose one vote on partisan legislation during times of full attendance. Now, they can afford to lose two.
A member of both the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Grijalva was known for his passionate advocacy of environmentalist causes. GovTrack ranked him as one of the most liberal members of the House of Representatives.
Arizona will hold a special election to fill his seat. According to state law, the special election process will move quickly, with a primary election expected to take place in the summer of 2025 and the general election following a few months later. Given the district’s strong Democratic leaning, the Democratic primary is expected to be highly competitive.
Among potential candidates to succeed him are his daughter, Adelita Grijalva, and Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, who is married to one of Grijalva’s longtime aides.
Born in 1948 to an immigrant father and a mother who didn’t speak English, Grijalva grew up in Canoa Ranch, Arizona. He credited his upbringing with giving him a “political backbone.”
During the 1980s, Grijalva struggled with drinking issues and spent time in an alcohol abuse program before returning to college, where he later received a degree in sociology in 1987. This personal challenge was one he overcame through professional help, as noted when the House Ethics Committee cleared him in 2018 of alleged wrongdoing related to a hostile work environment.
Grijalva’s public service career began as a community organizer in Tucson, where he advocated for underrepresented communities. He served on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board from 1974 to 1986, including six years as Chairman. In 1988, he was elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, where he served for 15 years, chairing the Board for two of those years.
First elected to the House of Representatives in 2002, Grijalva quickly made a name for himself by opposing the 2003 invasion of Iraq by the Bush administration. Throughout his congressional career, he was known as a forceful advocate for progressive policies, including comprehensive immigration reform, protection of public lands, and workers’ rights.
Grijalva played a key role in the creation of the Sonoran Desert Conservation Plan and was instrumental in the designation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. He also drafted the Environmental Justice for All Act and secured funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
“He was a forceful fighter,” colleagues noted, especially against efforts to ease environmental regulations during the Trump administration.
As a sitting congressman, Grijalva remained an ardent critic of President Trump until the end, with his X account posting criticism just two hours before the announcement of his passing.
Grijaiva expressed concern in a statement on his X account, stating that President Trump’s recent decision to terminate thousands of employees at the Department of Education poses a serious threat to vital student aid programs, diminishes safeguards for students’ civil rights, and weakens crucial support systems for students with disabilities. He further criticized Trump and Elon Musk for prioritizing tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of students’ futures, calling the action both selfish and illegal.
More than a decade ago, in 2013, Grijalva was asked about how he wanted to be remembered. “I hope people know that I never gave up,” he said, according to the Arizona Republic.
Widely respected as a mentor to many young progressive leaders, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Grijalva’s passing represents a significant loss for both Tucson and the state of Arizona, where he was renowned for his unwavering commitment to social and environmental justice.
