Urgent: Arizona AG Sues GOP Over Rep-Elect’s Delayed Swearing-In

UPDATE: Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has just filed a federal lawsuit against House Republican leadership, accusing them of unlawfully blocking Democratic Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva from taking her seat. This urgent legal move comes nearly a month after Grijalva won the special election on September 23, 2025, to fill her late father’s seat in Southern Arizona.

Mayes argues that House Speaker Mike Johnson has no constitutional authority to delay Grijalva’s swearing-in, calling the situation a blatant partisan maneuver that denies Arizonans their rightful representation in Congress. The lawsuit claims that Johnson’s refusal to administer the oath to Grijalva violates constitutional precedents and undermines the state’s right to have nine duly seated representatives.

The complaint highlights the Supreme Court’s Powell v. McCormack decision, which prohibits Congress from excluding members who meet all constitutional qualifications. “Every day that Grijalva remains unseated is a day that congressional representation for Arizonans is at risk,” Mayes stated.

“It’s a publicity stunt by a Democrat Attorney General in Arizona,” Johnson remarked, dismissing Mayes’s claims as politically motivated. “She has nothing whatsoever to do with what’s happening in Congress.”

Despite Johnson acknowledging Grijalva’s election, he has stated that she will only be sworn in once the House reconvenes, attributing the delay to the ongoing government shutdown. This development has fueled speculation among House Democrats, including Grijalva herself, that the delay is connected to her potential decisive vote on a discharge petition regarding files related to deceased pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

However, Johnson has categorically rejected these claims, insisting that the delay “has nothing to do” with the petition. As tensions rise in Congress, multiple House Democrats are rallying behind Grijalva, urging for her immediate swearing-in.

The implications of this lawsuit extend beyond Arizona, as it underscores the ongoing partisan battles within Congress amid a government shutdown. With almost all Senate Democrats voting against a GOP-backed funding measure to reopen the government, the stakes have never been higher.

What happens next is crucial. As the lawsuit progresses, all eyes will be on the House and Speaker Johnson to see how they respond to these legal challenges. Will Grijalva finally be sworn in, or will this standoff continue to escalate?

Stay tuned for the latest updates as this story develops, as the repercussions of this legal battle could significantly impact representation and governance in Arizona and beyond.