Speaker Johnson Finally Forced to Swear In Adelita Grijalva After Weeks of Undemocratic Delay

House Speaker Mike Johnson is finally scheduled to swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona on Wednesday, ending a shameful seven-week delay that undermined the will of voters. Grijalva, a Democrat and daughter of the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, won a special election on September 23 to fill her father’s seat, yet was denied the right to serve by Johnson’s partisan maneuvering.

Johnson’s refusal to seat Grijalva, citing the House’s recess and the government shutdown, blatantly disregarded the needs of Arizona’s constituents and deprived them of representation. This obstruction prevented Grijalva from accessing official resources and serving her community, highlighting the GOP’s disregard for democratic norms.

In response to this injustice, Grijalva and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes were forced to file a lawsuit on October 21, demanding that Johnson fulfill his constitutional duty and administer the oath of office.

The House only reconvened on Tuesday after a 53-day recess, finally moving on legislation to end the Republican-manufactured government shutdown and allowing Grijalva to take her rightful place in Congress.

Grijalva’s swearing-in will slightly reduce the Republicans’ fragile majority in the House. She has also committed to providing the crucial final signature on a bipartisan petition demanding transparency from the Justice Department regarding the files on the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Despite Johnson’s claims that his obstruction was unrelated to the petition, Democrats have rightly condemned the delay as a politically motivated attack on democracy.