by Matthew Holloway | Oct 12, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In a video rant on Thursday, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) claimed he had to ‘restrain’ himself during a hallway clash with House Speaker Mike Johnson over the government shutdown and swearing-in of Democrat Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva.
The exchange, captured on video and shared by Gallego’s office, happened on Wednesday outside Johnson’s office at the Capitol. Both of Arizona’s Democrat Senators, Gallego and Mark Kelly, pressed Johnson on his refusal to swear in Grijalva, a Democrat and the daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, in a pro forma session.
Grijalva’s seating would provide the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition to force a House vote on releasing Jeffrey Epstein’s client list, they contend. However, Speaker Johnson has described the controversy as a “red herring” and a “distraction.” Grijalva’s special election win in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District is also still pending certification in a statewide canvas scheduled for Oct. 14th.
Gallego, a Marine veteran, described the moment in his post on X, claiming that he folded his arms in a posture he described as a Marine technique for de-escalation, to avoid escalating the situation. “I had to restrain myself from doing more,” Gallego wrote, accusing Johnson of “holding Adelita Grijalva hostage” to block the Epstein vote. In the video, Gallego can be heard telling Johnson to “get your people in and stop covering up for the pedophiles,” referring to the Epstein files.
Kelly, standing beside Gallego, called the delay “ridiculous” and urged Johnson to “swear her in,” emphasizing Grijalva’s victory in the heavily Democratic district. The confrontation lasted less than two minutes and was filmed by reporters who had gathered for a planned press gaggle outside the Speaker’s office. Contrary to Gallego’s claims, U.S. Marine Corps manuals and law enforcement de-escalation guidelines from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency, as cited by the Daily Caller, do not prescribe the crossing of arms as a de-escalation technique. Rather, the outlet noted body language experts interpret the gesture as defensive or closed-off, and suggest positions with hands, open and visible.
Johnson, appearing on CNN’s The Lead with Jake Tapper, described the encounter as a “failed publicity stunt” by the Democrats. He disputed Gallego’s account of his body language, saying the senator appeared “very uncomfortable” and was “not telling you the truth.” Johnson reiterated that the House is not in session due to the Democratic walkout and pointed to the Democrats’ demanding concessions like $200 billion in benefits for non-citizens.
In his ranting video reaction to the Jake Tapper appearance, Gallego claimed, “He’s such a f***ing liar. And what a creep. He’s just telling what I’m thinking. I literally told him what I’m thinking. He is absolutely holding Adelita Grijalva hostage so that way she can’t be the 218th vote on the discharge petition. That’s it. It’s just that simple,” Gallego said.
“His reasons keep on changing. I think he gets away with the press because they don’t actually push him on it, but I did yesterday, and he should be happy I had my arms folded. There’s a reason why Marines fold their arms. It’s because it’s a way to make sure that we restrain ourselves,” Gallego said.
Speaker Johnson’s Rapid Response team offered a blistering response in a post to X, writing, “Instead of voting to OPEN the Government, Gallego instead has time to: Stage a FAILED publicity stunt, FAIL to fundraise off it, Record this SECOND rate video, Seemingly threaten the Speaker?! Democrats hide behind expletives because they have NO message.”
The partial government shutdown began Sept. 30 after Congress failed to pass a continuing resolution to fund federal operations. It has furloughed thousands of federal workers and closed some national parks. Republicans, led by Johnson, seek to strip funding for programs they view as wasteful, including subsidies for Planned Parenthood and specific green energy initiatives. Democrats, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have pushed for a “clean” bill without those cuts, accusing Republicans of using the shutdown as leverage.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Oct 11, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva says her district deserves representation, though she was silent on the absence of her father, the late Raúl Grijalva, from office.
The younger Grijalva has yet to be sworn in. She says Republicans are to blame for their refusal to agree to Democrats’ desired Obamacare continuations to lift the ongoing government shutdown.
“Speaker Johnson continues to make excuses but all the while southern Arizona still does not have a voice in Washington,” said Grijlava.
Senator Ruben Gallego also blamed House Speaker Mike Johnson and the rest of his Republican colleagues for Grijalva not being sworn in, claiming Johnson was telling “lies” to the public.
Contrary to Grijalva’s characterization of the situation, Grijalva can’t be sworn in because the statewide certification has yet to take place.
Grijalva’s desire to secure representation for her district is also a newfound one. She had little to say during the final years of her father’s term.
The late Grijalva missed most votes from last year and this year amid a lung cancer battle that would ultimately claim his life in March at 77 years old. The longtime Democrat had held his seat for 20 years when he announced his lung cancer diagnosis in 2023.
The late Grijalva missed nearly all votes (about 97 percent of votes) this and the last session before his passing. The only vote he took this session was for Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for House Speaker at the start of session. He defended his absence with the claim his vote wouldn’t have any impact in a Republican-controlled Congress.
“They’re inconsequential because the Republicans are in charge and it’s the worst performing Congress in decades, if not a hundred years,” said Grijalva at the time.
Tucson residents were quick to point out the successor Grijalva’s hypocrisy.
“A lung cancer diagnosis in April 2024 led Grijalva to miss most of his votes in the House of Representatives throughout the year and into 2025,” said one user. “[You] didn’t say a damn word.”
Grijalva couldn’t be sworn in sooner than next Tuesday, anyways, because that’s when the statewide canvass is scheduled.
Arizona Secretary of State and fellow Democrat Adrian Fontes issued a press release on that point. The deadline to file an election contest, also, will not occur until October 20.
Next Tuesday is also the earliest date the Senate will reconvene to possibly agree on a continuing resolution to cease the government shutdown.
Debbie Lesko, Maricopa County Supervisor and former congresswoman, reminded the public that she wasn’t sworn in until the House began its session that year, in 2018.
“[This is] what’s happening with Grijalva,” said Lesko. “The Democrats and media are making a big deal over nothing.”
Congress had its longest shutdown on record from December 2018 to January 2019. The shutdown has lasted for over a week now.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 1, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Democrat Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, daughter of late-Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07) has announced that she will resign from her County Office effective April 4th and enter the primary race for her father’s seat. Declining to run for the 7th District seat herself, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero will chair Grijalva’s campaign.
In a press release issued Monday, the Pima County Supervisor indicated that her decision largely comes from a desire to oppose the agenda of President Donald Trump, maligning X owner Elon Musk in his capacity as a special government employee as leading a “gang of billionaires […] destroying our nation.”
Grijalva said in her full statement:
“I am running for Congress because Southern Arizona deserves bold leadership that will fight for working families and stand up to Donald Trump.
“Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and their gang of billionaires are destroying our nation. They’re destroying our schools. They’re attacking our most sacred rights. They’re poisoning our environment. But together, we will stop them. This fight starts right here, right now, in southern Arizona.
“I’ve spent my life as an advocate, fighting for the brighter future we all deserve – from 20 years on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board where I strengthened public education for all children, to the Pima County Board of Supervisors where I spearheaded investments in affordable housing and childcare, and protected our beautiful Sonoran desert. In Congress, I will work to create opportunities to help all our families achieve their American Dream – no matter who you are, where you come from, or where you live.”
Speaking with AZ Luminaria, Grijalva said, “We’re not living in normal times,” and accused the Trump administration of “dismantling our entire democracy.” The outlet reported that Grijalva will be launching a listening tour later this week with a stop in Yuma and a focus on talking “to people who have lived experience that I don’t have.”
As noted by the outlet, Grijalva will face off in the Democratic primary against former AZ State Representative Daniel Hernandez, in addition to a dozen other candidates.
Ten Republicans have reportedly filed statements of interest in the Congressional seat with Daniel Butierez, Rep. Grijalva’s 2024 opponent considered the leading GOP Primary contender. According to The Cook Political Report, District 7 is well-established as Democrat held with a rating of D+15. The late Congressman Grijalva was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and held his seat for over twenty years despite redistricting in 2013. In the 2024 election, Grijalva defeated Butierez by a 26.8% margin.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Mar 30, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes announced in a social media post on Wednesday that he will not be running to replace the late Democrat Congressman Raúl Grijalva in the 7th Congressional District. Instead Fontes will seek to defend his seat as Arizona’s top election official in the 2026 mid-term election.
In his remarks, posted to X, Fontes referred to a “rising tide of fascism sweeping this nation,” as his primary motivation for the decision. Fontes cited President Donald Trump’s Executive Order “Preserving And Protecting The Integrity Of American Elections,” and claimed that through this action the “president is laying the groundwork to cancel elections in 2026.”
Fontes gave no explanation or description of how requiring voter identification, preventing non-citizens from voting, cooperation between the state and federal governments to maintain voter roll integrity, requiring states only count ballots received on or by election day, and improving the security of voting systems could possibly accomplish this end.
Fontes wrote:
“I have considered the pros and cons of running for congress. It is clear to me that our party must fight harder and stand up to the rising tide of fascism sweeping this nation.
“With this week’s executive order from the Trump Administration, I firmly believe the president is laying the groundwork to cancel elections in 2026.
“After careful thought and reflection, I have decided that for family, for country, and for democracy, I will continue to defend America as Arizona’s secretary of state.”
As reported by KJZZ, Fontes claimed that the Executive Order, “is in my view an attempt to erode confidence so much that he [Trump] will be able to declare some kind of emergency or something and potentially just cancel the elections in 2026. I don’t think that is beyond what this administration is capable of.”
In a subsequent interview with Scripps, Fontes proceeded to double-down, telling Elizabeth Landers that were DOGE to come for any of Arizona’s voter rolls or information, as required under the Executive Order, he “would tell them to go to hell.”
He also announced that a formal campaign announcement for Secretary of State will be forthcoming.
Several commenters to Fontes’ post on X disagreed with his characterization of his decision, instead positing that the late-Rep. Grijalva’s daughter Adelita Grijalva is the likely frontrunner.
Former Arizona State Representative Daniel Hernandez Jr. has already announced his candidacy for the seat as well with at least seven statements of interest filed for the race so far.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Mar 25, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Former state representative Daniel Hernandez Jr. announced his campaign for late Congressman Raúl Grijalva’s open seat.
On Monday, Hernandez launched a campaign platform presenting a sweeping defense against the Trump administration: resisting Republican-led changes to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, voting, abortion, and gun ownership.
“America is in trouble,” said the announcement video from Hernandez. “I’m Daniel Hernandez, and I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will stand up and do whatever it takes for working families, for veterans, and for seniors.”
Hernandez lost his last congressional race in 2022 against Kirsten Engel in the Democratic primary. Engel lost to incumbent Congressman Juan Ciscomani.
After his loss in 2022, Hernandez became the Government Affairs Director at Stand for Children in Arizona (SCA).
SCA is the Arizona hub for Stand for Children, the advocacy arm of the progressive education advocacy nonprofit Stand for Children Leadership Center (SCLC). Stand for Children has a presence in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington. It focuses on advancing “educational equity and racial justice” in children.
Stand for Children took credit for Arizona’s $1 billion increase in education funding following the court overturning of Proposition 208. The organization cited its creations of “bipartisan” coalitions of legislators, school superintendents, and education groups, in addition to a digital advertising campaign resulting in over 26,000 Arizonans urging their lawmakers to use the state surplus to fund education.
“Throughout the effort, the coalition leveraged strategic lobbying resources that led to a key Republican ally in the Senate — where Republicans hold a one seat majority — committing to vote down any budget that did not include $1 billion funding increase for public education,” said Stand for Children’s 2022 annual report.
Stand for Children also took credit for the defeat of HCR 2001 in 2022, a bill to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion statements in the classroom.
Currently, SCA is advocating for abolition of the aggregate expenditure limit, eliminating fees from the state’s juvenile court system, lifting restrictions on what teachers can teach, improving the number of freshmen on track to graduate high school, investing in early literature expansions, and reforming the state’s school choice program.
SCLC operates the program Center for Antiracist Education (CARE).
Hernandez made a name for himself in politics in 2011 when he provided first aid to then-Congresswoman Gabby Giffords after she was shot in the head during an attempted assassination. Hernandez was in his first week of an internship with Giffords’ office at the time. Later that year, Tucson voters elected Hernandez to the Sunnyside Unified School District governing board.
In 2016, Hernandez was elected to the Arizona House. Hernandez co-founded the LGBTQ Caucus.
Hernandez has also been the program manager for Planned Parenthood’s Latino outreach program and state director of Everytown for Gun Safety.
The primary election for Grijalva’s open seat is scheduled for July 15, followed by the general election on September 23.
Hernandez is one of 20 individuals who have filed statements of interest in the race: nine Democrats, nine Republicans, one Libertarian, and one Green Party member.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
