The representative Raul Grijalva, D-Arizona, died, confirmed his office on Tuesday.
Grijalva had served in the house since 2003 and was a former co -president of the progressive Caucus of the house. He also directed the House of Natural Resources Committee for Democrats from 2015 to 2025, including four years as president.
The president of the natural resources of the House of Representatives, Raul Grijalva, speaks at a press conference on March 28, 2022.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Cal through Getty Images
“Serving South Arizona was the honor of the life of Raúl M. Grijalva,” said his office in a statement confirming his death. “Having represented our communities for more than 50 years was a privilege. We thank everyone for the trust, support and the association that gave the Grijalva representative over the years. We are especially grateful to the family of the Grijalva representative for their friendship and keep it” everything about love. “
His death creates a new vacancy in the chamber, leaving the Democrats with 213 members and Republicans with 218. The simple majority now is 216.
Grijalva is the second Democrat of the Chamber in the last eight days he died. Representative Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, died on Wednesday, March 5, the morning after President Donald Trump’s speech against Congress.
The leader of the minority of the House of Representatives, Hakeem Jeffries, Dn.y., said that the country and Congress lost a “giant” and “mentor” with the death of Grijalva.
“Congressman Grijalva represented his community fiercely, maintaining his voters and the weather in the center of everything he did,” Jeffries said in a statement. “It was a mentor for many and a friend for everyone, and we will miss his presence and wisdom of principles in Congress.”
The president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, R-La., Now has a mattress of two votes for most.
“Chamber members are sad to hear the death of Congressman Raúl Grijalva, who faithfully served his voters in Congress for more than two decades,” Johnson Posted in x. “Our prayers are with Raúl’s wife, Ramona, his three children and the people of the 7th Arizona district.”
Arizona will now celebrate a special choice to determine who will occupy his seat in Congress for the rest of his mandate.
According Arizona State LawIf a seat in the Delegation of the House of Representatives of Arizona is convenient for more than six months to the general elections, then within 72 hours of the vacancy that occurs, the governor of Arizona must establish dates for a special primary election and a special general election.
The state law also indicates that the special primary election must be between 120 and 130 days after the vacancy occurs and that the special general elections must be between 70 and 80 days after the special primary.
Oren Oppenheim from ABC News contributed to this report.
