Special Election Announced
Pinal County officials are preparing for an upcoming special election following the death of longtime Congressman Raúl Grijalva, who represented Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. During the last Board of Supervisors meeting, County Recorder Dana Lewis presented details of the special election, which Governor Katie Hobbs has scheduled for July 15, 2025 (primary) and September 23, 2025 (general). Grijalva, a Democrat, died on March 13 at age 77 from complications related to lung cancer treatment.
Limited Impact on Pinal County Voters
The special election will affect only a small portion of Pinal County voters. “We have about 311,000 voters in Pinal County and when we have just over 4,000 affected by this special election, I don’t ever want to say to any voter you know it’s just a drop in the bucket, but that’s a tiny percentage in our county,” Lewis told the board. She emphasized that despite the limited scope, her department “still pulls up all the stops and we go full throttle on any type of an election.”
The election will involve four Pinal County precincts: Precinct 38 (Casa Grande Southwest), Precinct 53 (Chui Chu), Precinct 67 (Hidden Valley), and Precinct 91 (Silverbell). Polling locations will be established at Calvary Chapel, Central Lutheran Church, Chui Chu Elder Center, and the Hidden Valley Public Workyards.
Grijalva’s Legacy
Grijalva, a Democrat, had served in Congress since 2003, representing one of Arizona’s largest districts. As a progressive voice, he supported abortion access, opposing Arizona’s reinstatement of a 158-year-old abortion ban after Roe v. Wade was overturned. He advocated for police reform, voting for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Grijalva also championed LGBT rights. He served as Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee from 2018 to 2023 and was a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
Arizona’s 7th Congressional District spans southern Arizona from San Luis and Somerton to Nogales to Bisbee to Douglas up to Avondale and Tolleson, encompassing parts of Cochise, Maricopa, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma Counties. The district includes more than 350 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border and is home to four sovereign Tribal nations. Before his congressional career, Grijalva served on the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board and the Pima County Board of Supervisors.
Key Election Dates
Lewis outlined several important dates for the special election:
- March 14: Proclamation for vacancy issued by Governor Hobbs
- June 16: Voter registration deadline for special primary election
- June 18: Early voting begins
- July 15: Primary election
- September 23: General election
Lewis noted that 2,457 voters are set to receive ballots by mail.
For more specific information on voting see the County’s Election Website and the PinalVotes Website.
Remembering Grijalva’s Service
Board Chairman Stephen Miller concluded the discussion with remarks about Grijalva’s service. “I wish peace to all his family and members in the future. He served his constituents very well, and I think that that needed to be recognized, and so I publicly thank him for the service that he did put in for the state of Arizona,” Miller said.
