Washington — Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat from Arizona, will officially join Congress on Wednesday. This comes seven weeks after she won a special election to take her late father’s seat. House Speaker Mike Johnson announced that she will take the oath of office as soon as the House convenes, right before a crucial vote aimed at reopening the government. Voting is expected to start around 4 p.m. on Wednesday.
Grijalva expressed her disbelief about finally being sworn in after such a long wait. “It feels surreal,” she said, adding that one of her first votes will be on a bill that she believes won’t improve access to affordable healthcare.
Grijalva won her seat on September 23, but the House has been inactive since September 19, following the passage of a short-term funding measure by Republicans. Johnson has faced scrutiny for delaying her swearing-in, which many believe he could have expedited. Early in the process, he stated that she could be sworn in “as soon as she wants,” but has since offered various reasons for the delay.
Interestingly, during the pandemic in 2021, it took former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi 25 days to swear in Rep. Julia Letlow, a Republican from Louisiana. Yet, Democrats point out that two Florida Republicans were sworn in just one day after their elections earlier this year.
Public frustration has mounted over this delay. A recent poll indicated that 60% of voters feel Congress should act faster to resolve such issues, with many citing transparency as a top concern—especially regarding sensitive matters like those surrounding Jeffrey Epstein. Grijalva’s vote is anticipated to play a key role in pushing for the release of related files.
Arizona’s attorney general even took legal action to hasten Grijalva’s swearing-in, highlighting how this situation has attracted considerable attention and controversy.
This circumstance brings to light recurring debates about the efficiency and fairness of congressional procedures. As citizens closely watch how their representatives handle these events, the need for timely action and accountability remains ever present.
