Early Voting Begins in Arizona’s 7th District Special Primary
Early in-person and mail-in voting opened June 18 for Arizona’s special primary in Congressional District 7, following the March passing of long-serving Rep. Raúl Grijalva. The deadline for in-person ballots is July 7, pointing to a pivotal election in the predominantly Democratic district.
What Voters Need to Know
The special primary election will determine each party’s nominee to replace Grijalva and is scheduled for July 15, with the general election on September 23 azsos.gov+5axios.com+5kjzz.org+5. Early voting, including both mail ballots and in-person options, began June 18 for registered voters within CD7’s boundaries—covering parts of Cochise, Maricopa, Pima, Pinal, Santa Cruz, and Yuma counties azcleanelections.gov+2azsos.gov+2azsos.gov+2.
Maricopa County voters can visit any open Vote Center or drop box until 5 p.m. on July 7. Mail-in requests must also be submitted by that deadline azsos.gov+6azsos.gov+6elections.maricopa.gov+6.
Candidates and Campaign Landscape
On the Democratic side, five candidates are vying for the nomination:
- Adelita Grijalva, daughter of the late congressman and a former Tucson Unified School District board member and Pima County supervisor;
- Daniel Hernández Jr., former state representative and ex–Sunnyside Unified board member;
- Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old reproductive rights activist and social media organizer;
- Patrick Harris Sr. and Jose Malvido, community leaders with local engagement in southern Arizona en.wikipedia.org+6axios.com+6axios.com+6.
On the Republican side, contenders include Daniel Butierez, Jorge Rivas, and Jimmy Rodriguez azluminaria.org+3axios.com+3en.wikipedia.org+3.
“We’re seeing a clear split between progressive and moderate platforms, especially within the Democratic primary,” noted analysts from AZ Luminaria, highlighting contrasting backgrounds and policy platforms en.wikipedia.org+2axios.com+2azluminaria.org+2.
Significance for Arizona Politics
CD7 is a solidly Democratic district, meaning winning the primary virtually guarantees victory in September’s general election azsos.gov+2azcleanelections.gov+2en.wikipedia.org+2. The overwhelmingly blue electorate sees the primary as the main determinant of representation, giving this election outsized influence on policy-making and party dynamics.
Political observers say the race could reshape the district’s direction—balancing progressive priorities like climate and immigration with Hernández’s moderate messaging and focus on local issues.
Voter Information and Accessibility
To participate in early voting:
- Voters must reside in CD7.
- Registered Democrats, Republicans, Green, Libertarian, or No Labels voters can request their respective party’s primary ballot; independents must declare a party choice pinal.gov+5azsos.gov+5azsos.gov+5kjzz.org+7azsos.gov+7azsos.gov+7.
- Drop boxes operate 24/7 and are video-monitored; in-person early voting centers are open during standard business hours azcleanelections.gov+12pinal.gov+12azsos.gov+12.
- Tuesday, July 7 at 5 p.m. is the last day to vote early, after which votes must be cast at the polls on July 15.
Voters can check their eligibility and polling locations through Maricopa County Elections and the Arizona Secretary of State’s website votebeat.org+1elections.maricopa.gov+1.
Potential Voter Turnout and Implications
With high-profile candidates and polarized party dynamics, early turnout is expected to outpace typical special elections. The campaign energy mirrors a broader surge in engagement seen during recent No Kings protests and civic mobilization.
The outcome could serve as a bellwether for upcoming 2026 and 2028 races, signaling the state’s ideological direction. Local leaders are also watching turnout in Tucson and Yuma, where progressive ground campaigns have shown strength.
What’s Next
- July 7: Deadline for early voting—both in-person and mail-in.
- July 15: Special Primary Election.
- September 23: Special General Election to fill the vacancy through January 2027 axios.comkjzz.org+9azcleanelections.gov+9elections.maricopa.gov+9.
Candidates plan to hold forums throughout CD7 counties before early voting closes, and several voter registration drives are filling college campuses in Tucson and Phoenix.
Bottom line: Early voting in CD7 begins a high-stakes primary for Arizona’s future direction, giving voters a timely opportunity to engage in a race with lasting implications for the district and state.