Arizona Attorney General Sues House Speaker Over Delay in Seating Rep.-Elect Grijalva

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has initiated legal action against the U.S. House of Representatives, challenging Speaker Mike Johnson's postponement of swearing in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva. Grijalva secured a decisive victory in a special election on September 23, 2025, to fill the seat of her late father, Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Despite the election results being certified, she has yet to be sworn in, leaving over 800,000 residents of Arizona's 7th Congressional District without representation.

Mayes contends that Johnson's delay is unjustified and violates the constitutional rights of Arizona's citizens. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., seeks a court order to compel Johnson to administer the oath of office to Grijalva or to authorize another official to do so if Johnson refuses.

Speaker Johnson has stated that he intends to swear in Grijalva once the House reconvenes, attributing the delay to the ongoing government shutdown. He has dismissed the lawsuit as "patently absurd" and a bid for publicity, asserting that the House is following precedent.

Grijalva has expressed frustration over the delay, noting that it hampers her ability to serve her constituents effectively. She has attempted to meet with Johnson to resolve the issue but has not been successful.

The lawsuit underscores the tension between Arizona officials and House leadership over the representation of the state's 7th Congressional District during the government shutdown.