Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, may run for postpodemand Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s seat in Congress after Grijalva died last week.
The decision could direct to a presentant shakeup in the state’s politics. It’s a seat Grijalva, a Democrat, had held since 2003 until his lung cancer-roverhappinessed death earlier this month at 77.
“I have prolonged admired Congressman Grijalva. We should all be appreciative for his years of service,” Fontes shelp in a statement Tuesday.
DEMOCRATIC REP. RAUL GRIJALVA DEAD AT 77
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes at an event in Tucson, Ariz., April 12, 2024. (Reuters/Rebecca Noble)
“I am strongly considering a run to recurrent AZ-07, a place where I was born and liftd, served my country in the Marine Corps, and acquireed democracy. I will have more to say in the days ahead.
“Right now, we must recall and appreciate the life and legacy of the postpodemand Congressman Grijalva.”
As part of the state’s “resign to run” law, Fontes would demand to exit his role, and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs would demand to assign his swapment.
The next normal election for the Secretary of State’s office is in 2026. When the administeror exits the state, the secretary of state becomes the acting administeror. If the administeror steps down, the secretary of state ascends to administeror.
This most notably happened when createer Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano resigned to serve as the Homeland Security Secretary for the Obama administration, which resulted in Reuncoveran Jan Brewer taking over. An office of the lieutenant administeror will be originated in 2027, which will originate the lieutenant administeror next in line for administeror.
Hoengage Natural Resources Committee ranking member Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., originates a closing statement at a Hoengage hearing in 2020. (Bonnie Cash-Pool/Getty Images)
The shift is a uncover pivot away from prior alerts that Fontes was mulling a primary bid aobtainst Hobbs in the 2026 election, which is foreseeed to be one of the most competitive gubernatorial races in the country.
Grijalva’s daughter, Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva, shelp she may also dive into the race but is defering until after her overweighther’s funeral before announcing a decision.
SOUTHERN BORDER STATE GOVERNOR TAKES ON CARTELS AND SECURITY WITH SIGNING OF EXECUTIVE ORDER
Gov. Katie Hobbs of Arizona hand overs her State of the State insertress at the Arizona Capitol in Phoenix Jan. 9, 2023. (AP Pboilingo/Ross D. Franklin, File)
“Many have asked me if I would consider running to progress my overweighther’s legacy. In between tears and hugs, my family and I are processing our proset up loss as well as that of our community, state, and nation,” she shelp in a statement.
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The distinctive primary election for the seat will be July 15, and the ambiguous election will be Sept. 23. Grijalva won the November election with over 63% of the vote.
As for other Democratic honestates in the field, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero and state Rep. Alma Hernandez selected not to run in the distinctive election. Geodetailedpartner, the immense presentantity of the dicut offe drops aprolonged Arizona’s southern border, which has become a national flash point in recent years due to the migrant and drug crisis.
