Overview

• Networks projected Adelita Grijalva the winner over Republican Daniel Butierez in Arizona’s 7th District, filling the seat of her late father for the remainder of the term.
• Her arrival narrows the House to a 219–214 Republican majority, leaving GOP leaders able to afford only two defections on party-line votes with full attendance.
• The Massie–Khanna discharge petition seeking a vote to release Jeffrey Epstein-related Justice Department files stood at 217 signatures after Rep. James Walkinshaw was sworn in this month.
• Grijalva has said she will sign the petition once sworn in, which would provide the 218th signature required to bring the measure to the floor under the discharge process.
• Once the threshold is met, at least seven legislative days must elapse before a vote can be called, and leadership retains some scheduling control as Republicans weigh resistance and timing.