Arizona Attorney General Sues U.S. House Over Refusal to Swear in Adelita Grijalva

Strategic Insights -

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and U.S. Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva have sued the U.S. House over Speaker Mike Johnson's refusal to swear in Grijalva as the state's newest member of Congress. The lawsuit comes after Johnson's ongoing refusal to administer the oath of office, despite numerous requests from Grijalva and other congressional Democrats. The situation is particularly significant because it has left the southern Arizona-based 7th Congressional District without representation since the death of former U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva in March.

Key Takeaways:

  • The lawsuit was filed after Speaker Mike Johnson refused to swear in U.S. Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, despite Arizona officials certifying the election results on October 21.
  • Adelita Grijalva won a special election on September 23 to fill the seat previously held by her father, U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, who died in March after 22 years in office.
  • Johnson claims it is customary practice to swear in new members when the House is in session, and intends to administer the oath of office on the first day the House is back in session.
  • However, Johnson can swear in new members during pro forma sessions, and did so in April with two newly elected Republicans.
  • Adelita Grijalva's swearing-in is crucial as she would be the deciding 218th vote on a discharge petition from U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) seeking the release of files related to the sex crimes case against financier Jeffrey Epstein.
  • The lawsuit was filed after Mayes threatened to sue if Johnson didn't provide "assurance of when and where" Grijalva will be sworn in, with a deadline that passed on October 24.
  • The U.S. House has only held pro forma sessions during the current government shutdown.

Statistics:

  • 22 years: The length of time that U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva served in office before his death in March.
  • 7th Congressional District: The southern Arizona-based district that has been without representation since former U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva's death.
  • 218th vote: The number of votes needed for a discharge petition from U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) to pass, with Adelita Grijalva's swearing-in potentially deciding the outcome.
  • October 24: The deadline for Speaker Mike Johnson to provide "assurance of when and where" Adelita Grijalva will be sworn in, which passed without action.

Sources:

  • https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26192918-2025-10-21-complaint-for-declaratory-relief-state-et-al-v-us-house-et-al/
  • https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/10/14/arizona-mayes-threatens-lawsuit-johnson-grijalva-swearing-in
  • https://www.axios.com/2025/03/13/raúl-grijalva-dies-cancer-77
  • https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/09/24/grijalva-win-gives-massie-his-magic-number
  • https://www.axios.com/2025/09/09/trump-johnson-epstein-massie-walkinshaw-grijalva