Speaker Johnson keeps certified winner Adelita Grijalva out of the House for 50 days

What happened

Speaker Mike Johnson did not swear in Adelita Grijalva until November 12, 2025, 50 days after she won, a record gap. She had won the September 23, 2025 special election for Arizona’s 7th District with 68.9 percent of the vote.

Johnson said he would not seat her while the House was out of session during the shutdown that began October 1, citing a “Pelosi precedent.” He had sworn in two Florida Republicans the day after their April special elections.

Democrats said the delay kept Grijalva from supplying the 218th signature on the Epstein-files discharge petition. Johnson denied it. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Grijalva sued the House on October 21, 2025, three weeks before she was sworn in.

Who benefited

By Democrats’ account, Johnson kept the Epstein-files discharge petition short of 218 signatures for 50 days by holding back one swearing-in. Johnson denied that was the reason. Grijalva’s signature was the one Democrats said the petition was waiting for.

Who wanted something

Johnson said he would not seat Grijalva until the House returned from the shutdown recess, citing a “Pelosi precedent.” Democrats named a different motive, the discharge petition. He had sworn in two Florida Republicans the day after their April special elections.

Who lost out

The voters of Arizona’s 7th District, who gave Grijalva 68.9 percent of the vote, had no voting member in the House for 50 days. Their representative had been certified and was waiting for the Speaker to administer the oath.

Why it matters

A certified winner waited a record 50 days to be sworn in, while the Speaker had sworn in two Republicans the day after their April special elections. Arizona’s attorney general and Grijalva went to court over it. The House seated her on November 12, 2025.

Sources Arizona Attorney General's Office (primary)Deseret NewsArizona MirrorNBC News