Rep. Grijalva Dead From Cancer Complications, Posts From the Grave

March 13, 2025 ADI Staff Reporter
Raul Grijalva
Rep. Raul Grijalva

Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-07) passed away on Thursday at the age of 77 from cancer complications. Shortly after his passing, Grijalva issued one last post on X to criticize President Donald Trump, ostensibly from the grave.

The final remarks attributed to Grijalva after his passing concerned the Trump administration’s mass firing of Department of Education employees.

According to a statement issued Thursday afternoon by Grijalva’s staff, Grijalva passed away on Thursday morning.

Grijalva passed away just several days after his rumored replacement pick, Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, sustained a crushing defeat with voters’ rejection of Proposition 414. Romero’s proposition would have increased sales taxes “temporarily” by 50 cents for the next 10 years — hiking rates from 8.70% to 9.20%. The proposed tax rate would have secured Tucson’s standing as having the highest overall tax rate.

Romero blamed Trump for the loss.

“The uncertainty of what’s happening in our economy, the mass firings from the federal government, what’s happening in our state, I believe did affect how voters reacted,” stated Romero in a watch party for supporters on Tuesday.

Romero’s husband, Ruben Reyes, is Grijalva’s district director. As reported previously, Reyes has spoken to the press with authority on Grijalva’s capabilities while the congressman’s health declined.

Since announcing his cancer diagnosis in February 2023, Grijalva has missed hundreds of key votes. This legislative session, Grijalva all but bowed out after the first day, missing over 97 percent of roll call votes.

Despite his excessive absence, prompting repeated calls to relinquish his seat from Arizona’s Democratic leaders, Grijalva refused to step down.

Last month, State Rep. Alma Hernandez questioned why House Democratic leadership weren’t holding Grijalva accountable for his absence, especially during key votes requiring “maximum attendance” from Democrats.

In the case of another account potentially not run by its owner, former President Joe Biden posted on X to acknowledge Grijalva’s passing.

“Jill and I are saddened by the passing of Congressman Raúl Grijalva. He will be remembered for tirelessly standing up for working families and protecting our environment,” read the post attributed to Biden. “Our prayers are with his family and loved ones.”

Grijalva first took office in 2003. In that time, 10 of his bills became law: HR 4881, “Old Pascua Community Land Acquisition Act”; HR 2030, “Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act”; HR 1075, designating the Customs and Border Protection Port of Entry in Douglas, Arizona as the “Raul Hector Castro Port of Entry”; HR 507, “Pascua Yaqui Tribe Trust Land Act”; HR 3319, allowing the Pascua Yaqui Tribe to determine the requirements for membership; HR 3739, amending the Arizona Water Settlements Act to modify the requirements for statement of findings; HR 5857, designating a USPS facility in Tucson as the “Morris K. ‘Mo’ Udall Post Office Building”; HR 794, “Colorado River Indian Reservation Boundary Correction Act”; HR 237, allowing binding arbitration clauses to be included in all contracts affecting land within the Gila River Indian Community Reservation; and HR 326, amending the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Act of 2000 to adjust the boundary of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.

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