Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat from southern Arizona, in a recent special election. She’ll be taking the place of her late father, Raúl M. Grijalva, in the U.S. House of Representatives. Along with our entire team, she is excited to begin her new role. Multiple days of delays have already occurred, as House Speaker Mike Johnson has not yet sworn her in. This unprecedented situation has sparked alarm among Democrats, who fear that Johnson is intentionally and unlawfully delaying Grijalva’s official start in Congress.
Grijalva’s recent election came after the death of her father, a congressman who served for many decades. Since winning her seat, she has not been able to sit down with her distinguished colleagues. Her situation has brought significant attention to the procedural delays which are preventing her timely swearing in. The main contention involves a fight over government funding, which has morphed into a key litmus test for politicians in both parties.
We note here that Mike Johnson has publicly contested the idea that he is taking a different approach to Grijalva than other recent appointees. So too Florida’s two other Republican Representatives, Mike Lawler and Hakeem Jeffries, who were sworn in immediately upon winning their special elections earlier this year. Johnson claimed that Grijalva’s situation does not stem from any discriminatory practices.
“The idea that Adelita Grijalva is being treated differently is totally absurd,” – Mike Johnson
Grijalva thinks that only one signature is lacking to complete the roster. This signature may be the final push needed to get a vote on their legislation calling for the release of files related to Jeffrey Epstein. She insists that this delay is not benign and politically motivated, as the legislation is especially sensitive.
Despite Johnson’s insistence on the impartiality of the process, Grijalva’s supporters argue that her situation highlights a broader issue within Congress regarding partisan conflicts. The current impasse over federal appropriations is adding to the challenging environment. New members are struggling to participate meaningfully in legislative business.
“You’re embarrassing yourself and your district right now, and you’re going down to defeat next year,” – Hakeem Jeffries
Lawmakers from both parties are fed up with funding negotiations that have gone nowhere. All are calling on lawmakers to seek out solutions sooner rather than later, so that Congress can resume operations in a more functional manner.
“We’re going to do that as soon as we get back to work, but we need the lights turned back on, so we encourage both of you to go open the government,” – Mike Johnson