Overview

• State officials finalized the Sept. 23 special-election results and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes sent Speaker Mike Johnson a letter demanding Adelita Grijalva be sworn in immediately, citing the Powell v. McCormack precedent.
• Mayes told Johnson to provide an assurance within two days that the oath will occur before the House returns to regular session or she will seek judicial relief.
• Johnson says he will administer the oath when the House reconvenes after the shutdown and argues Grijalva deserves a full-chamber ceremony, rejecting claims the delay is tied to efforts to release Jeffrey Epstein–related records.
• Democrats say Grijalva would provide the 218th signature on a discharge petition to force a vote on releasing Epstein files, an effort that remains stalled until she is seated.
• Democrats note Johnson swore in two Florida Republicans during an April pro forma session, while Johnson cites different circumstances and points to a 25-day wait in 2021 for Rep. Julia Letlow; roughly 800,000 Arizonans remain without House representation during the standoff.