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Arizona Certifies Grijalva’s Win as AG Threatens Lawsuit Over Speaker’s Delay

Arizona’s attorney general gave Speaker Mike Johnson two days to set an immediate swearing-in plan or face court action.

Adelita Grijalva on July 15, 2025 in South Tucson, AZ.
Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva speaks alongside other House Democrats outside the office of House Speaker Mike Johnson at the U.S. Capitol to demand that Grijalva be sworn in on the 14th day of a government shutdown, Oct. 14, 2025.
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TUCSON, ARIZONA - JULY 15: Democratic U.S. congressional candidate Adelita Grijalva speaks at a primary election-night party at El Casino Ballroom on July 15, 2025 in South Tucson, Arizona. Grijalva, the Pima County supervisor, is running in a special election held for the state's 7th District seat vacated by the death of her father, longtime U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva. (Photo by Rebecca Noble/Getty Images)

Overview

  • State officials finalized the canvass and sent a certificate of election for Adelita Grijalva on Oct. 14, which Arizona’s attorney general says makes administering the oath a ministerial duty.
  • Kris Mayes cited the Powell v. McCormack precedent in her letter and warned that continued delay would deprive Arizona’s 7th District of representation unlawfully.
  • Johnson says he will administer the oath when the House returns to legislative session during the shutdown and rejects claims the delay is tied to Jeffrey Epstein-related records.
  • Democrats say Grijalva’s signature would be the decisive 218th on a discharge petition to force a vote on DOJ Epstein files, noting a seven-legislative-day wait would follow once the threshold is reached.
  • Democrats point to two Republicans sworn in during an April pro forma session as precedent, as Arizona lawmakers press the issue on the floor and Grijalva reports limited office access and no ability to hire staff until seated.