Democrats are poised to reduce the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives following a special election Tuesday night in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. The contest aims to fill the seat vacated by the late Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March after battling cancer.
The district, spanning from Yuma to Tucson, has a larger number of registered Democrats than Republicans. Adelita Grijalva, the daughter of the deceased congressman and a Pima County supervisor, is heavily favored against Republican candidate Daniel Butierez. The winner will serve the remaining 15 months of Grijalva’s term.
The current House composition stands at 219-213 in favor of Republicans, with three seats vacant. Additional vacancies include Texas’ 18th District, which became empty after Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner’s death in March, and Tennessee’s 7th District, left open when Republican Rep. Mark Green resigned in July. Special elections for these seats are scheduled for November 4 and December, respectively.
The outcome of the Arizona race could influence efforts to force a vote on releasing records related to Jeffrey Epstein. A discharge petition led by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie and Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna requires 218 signatures to compel leadership to act. Grijalva has stated she would support the initiative if elected, emphasizing concerns about accountability for former President Donald Trump.
Republican leaders have avoided such votes, with Speaker Mike Johnson adjourning the House early in July to sidestep related discussions. Massie recently suggested the Epstein bill could advance as early as mid-October, citing the Arizona election as a potential catalyst.