RESULTS: Special election in southern Arizona for Congressional District 7

The special election will determine who will fill the seat left vacant by the death of Democratic U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva.

TUCSON, Ariz. — Southern Arizona voters on Tuesday chose Adelita Grijalva to succeed her father, the late U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva, a progressive stalwart who represented the state for more than two decades in Congress.

She defeated Republican candidate Daniel Butierez to represent a district that stretches from Yuma to Tucson and hugs almost the entire length of Arizona’s border with Mexico. The seat was one of two remaining vacancies in blue districts that Democrats needed to hold to avoid losing more ground to Republicans in the U.S. House. Grijalva will serve the final 15 months of her father’s term.

“It is the privilege of my life to represent this beautiful community,” Grijalva said. “Southern Arizona is sending a guerrera – a fighter – to Washington, D.C. I will never forget who I’m fighting for.”

The campaign arm of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus issued a statement congratulating Grijalva on her win.