A second House Democrat has died in little more than a week.
Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva died Thursday morning after a lengthy battle with lung cancer, his office said in a statement. He was 77.
Grijalva had been planning to step down after this term. The statement said his death was due to complications from his cancer treatment.
“More than two decades ago, Rep. Grijalva embarked on a journey to be a voice for Southern Arizonans in Washington, D.C,” the statement, signed by his staff, said. “Driven by his community values and spirit, he worked tirelessly and accomplished so much — for Arizona and for the country.”
Grijalva was first elected to Congress in 2002. During his tenure, he chaired the House Natural Resources Committee and co-chaired the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
Last Wednesday, another House Democrat died after experiencing a medical emergency following Donald Trump address to Congress. Rep. Sylvester Turner, 70, was a congressional freshman from Texas. He had previously served as the mayor of Houston for eight years.
The two deaths widen a previously razor-thin margin in the House. Now, Republicans hold a 218-213 majority, making it even harder for Democrats to block President Donald Trump’s disruptive legislative agenda. Three Republicans would now have to defect in order for the Democrats to succeed.
Grijalva, who was diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, has missed almost every vote while he has been receiving treatment over the last year. He did make an appearance in Congress to cast a vote for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries for Speaker.
Last month, an op-ed in a local Arizona newspaper called for him to resign over the fact that he wasn’t casting votes.
“Given the man’s long service, it isn’t easy to say, but I have to be cold and cruel,” wrote Blake Morlock, who said he knew Grijalva personally, in The Tuscon Sentinel. “Grijalva hasn’t indicated he’ll be able to get back to work in the near future. His longterm illness has left the 7th Congressional District of Arizona without a vote in what the federal government does to it. That’s not acceptable. The time has come.”
