Former Democratic state lawmaker enters race for Raúl Grijalva’s congressional seat

PHOENIX – Daniel Hernandez Jr., a former Democratic state lawmaker, jumped into the race for late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s congressional seat on Monday.

“I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will stand up and do whatever it takes for working families, for veterans and for seniors,” he said in a video announcement.

BIG NEWS: I’m running for Congress in AZ-07!

I’ve spent my life fighting for Southern Arizona—protecting our healthcare, lowering costs for families, standing up to extremists, and defending our democracy. Now, I’m taking that fight to Washington.

Join us:… pic.twitter.com/fQ5a9EdgNy

— Daniel Hernandez Jr (@danielforaz) March 24, 2025

Hernandez said he would work to protect Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, voting rights and reproductive rights if elected.

What is Daniel Hernandez Jr. known for?

Gun safety is another significant issue for the Arizona native, who was lauded as a hero for helping save former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords’ life after she was seriously wounded in a mass shooting near Tucson in 2011.

Hernandez was an intern for Giffords at the time of the shooting. He went on to serve three terms in the state House of Representatives starting in 2017.

He left the Legislature to run for Congress in Arizona’s 6th Congressional District in 2022 but lost to Kirsten Engel in the Democratic primary. Engel was defeated by Republican Juan Ciscomani in the general election.

Hernandez is now hoping to win the open seat from southern Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold. Grijalva, who spent more than 20 years in Congress, died at age 77 on March 13 after a battle with cancer.

When is the election for Raúl Grijalva’s congressional seat?

The primary for the special election to complete Grijalva’s term, which runs through 2026, is set for July 15. The general election will be held Sept. 23.

Hernandez was the 20th potential candidate to file a statement of interest for the seat. The list of hopefuls, as of Monday morning, consisted of nine Democrats, nine Republicans, one Libertarian and one Green Party member.

A statement of interest isn’t an official entry into a race, but it’s a required step before a candidate can start collecting nomination petition signatures.

Looming large over the race is Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, a Democrat who has expressed interest in the seat but said he won’t announce his decision until sometime after Grijalva’s funeral on Wednesday.

April 14 is the deadline for turning in nominating petitions.

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