Arizona Rep.-elect Grijalva to be sworn in this week, sources say

Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva is expected to be sworn in when the House returns to vote on a possible end to the government shutdown this week, sources say.

Arizona’s newest member of Congress won a special election to fill her late father’s seat in the state’s 7th Congressional District on Sept. 23. Weeks later, she still has not taken office, but that could change in the coming days.

CNN and other media outlets are reporting that Speaker Mike Johnson will swear in Grijalva this week, per sources familiar with plans.

“I am planning to travel to Washington, D.C. after hearing through Leader Jeffries and media reports that Speaker Johnson finally intends to swear me in,” Grijalva said in a statement. “This delay never should have happened in the first place. For seven weeks, 813,000 Arizonans have been denied a voice and access to basic constituent services. This is an abuse of power that no Speaker should have.”

Johnson had previously refused to seat her until Senate Democrats agree to reopen the government, in a record-long shutdown now in its 41st day.

“While I am eager to get to work, I am disappointed that one of my first votes will be on a bill that does nothing to protect working people from skyrocketing premiums, loss of health coverage, or do anything significant to rein in Trump’s abuse of power,” Grijalva said.