Arizona Attorney General Sues U.S. House Over Delay in Seating Representative-Elect Grijalva

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva have initiated legal action against the U.S. House of Representatives, contending that House Speaker Mike Johnson's postponement in administering the oath of office to Grijalva deprives more than 800,000 Arizona residents of their rightful representation.

Grijalva secured victory in a special election on September 23, 2025, to fill the seat previously held by her late father, Raúl Grijalva. Despite the election results being certified, she has yet to be sworn in. Mayes criticized Johnson's inaction, stating, "Speaker Mike Johnson is actively stripping the people of Arizona of one of their seats in Congress and disenfranchising the voters of Arizona's seventh Congressional district in the process."

Johnson has indicated that Grijalva will be sworn in once the government shutdown concludes. However, Mayes and Grijalva argue that there are no legal impediments preventing the House from convening to administer the oath. Grijalva expressed her concerns, noting that the delay has left her constituents without representation during critical times.

The lawsuit seeks a court order compelling Johnson to swear in Grijalva immediately, emphasizing the constitutional right of Arizona's seventh Congressional district to full representation in Congress.