Speaker Johnson Upholds Order, Swears In Adelita Grijalva After Ensuring House Priorities

House Speaker Mike Johnson is scheduled to swear in Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva of Arizona on Wednesday, following a responsible seven-week delay since her election. Grijalva, a Democrat and daughter of the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, won a special election on September 23 to fill the vacant seat.

Johnson, acting in accordance with House procedures, declined to seat Grijalva during the recess and ongoing government shutdown, ensuring that critical legislative priorities were addressed first. This temporary delay meant Grijalva did not have access to official resources or begin serving constituents until the House was back in session.

Despite this, Grijalva and Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes chose to escalate the matter with a lawsuit on October 21, seeking to force Johnson’s hand rather than respecting House order.

The House reconvened on Tuesday after a 53-day recess to address urgent legislation to end the government shutdown, clearing the way for Grijalva’s induction into Congress.

With Grijalva’s swearing-in, the already narrow Republican majority in the House will be further threatened. She has also pledged to sign a bipartisan petition demanding the Justice Department release files on the disgraced sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, a move that some see as politically motivated.

Johnson has consistently maintained that his decision to delay seating Grijalva was unrelated to the petition, despite Democrats’ unfounded accusations of political motivation.