Adelita Grijalva, a Democrat from Tucson, has won the special election in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. She defeated Republican Daniel Butierez by a wide margin, according to CNN.

Adelita Grijalva Wins Special Election

The seat had been vacant since the death of her father, longtime Representative Raul Grijalva. By winning, she not only continues her family’s political legacy but also provides Democrats with a critical vote in the House of Representatives.

This win is not just another routine election result. With her seat filled, the House now has 218 votes needed to trigger a rare procedure known as a discharge petition. This move could force a vote on releasing long-hidden documents connected to the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Final Vote Secures Discharge Petition

For months, lawmakers in Washington have been divided over whether to make the Epstein files public. The petition to release them had gathered 217 signatures but stalled there.

The effort has been led by an unusual team: Republican Thomas Massie from Kentucky and Democrat Ro Khanna from California. Together, they have been pushing to override House leadership and bring the issue directly to the floor.

Earlier this month, James Walkinshaw, a new Democrat from Virginia, became the 217th lawmaker to sign. Grijalva’s win now delivers the final, deciding vote to reach the 218 threshold. That means Congress can no longer ignore the petition.

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Speaking before the results were even official, Grijalva made her position clear. She told the Arizona Daily Star: “We are hearing from voters that they believe the survivors deserve justice, and Congress must fulfill its duty to check the executive branch and hold Trump accountable.”

Her victory is being described by lawmakers as the tipping point for what has been called a “boiling point” in Washington. Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly avoided the issue. In July, he even adjourned the House early to prevent any action before the summer recess.

Once Grijalva is sworn in, the process will begin. By House rules, there must be a seven-day waiting period before Massie can bring the bill forward. After that, leadership has two days to schedule it for a vote.

Growing Tension Inside the House

Discharge petitions are rarely successful in Congress. Most never see the light of day because lawmakers fear angering their party leaders. But the Epstein case is different. Public anger has been building for years, and pressure on both parties has increased.

Some Republicans, especially those loyal to former President Trump, have broken ranks. Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace are among those who signed on to the petition, joining Democrats in a rare show of unity.

Still, the issue has not been smooth for House leaders. Johnson’s Republican majority is already razor thin. The current split is 219 Republicans to 213 Democrats. With Grijalva’s win, Johnson’s margin for error is even smaller. He can now only afford to lose two votes on party-line issues.

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Adding to the pressure, two more seats remain empty. One in Texas is vacant after Representative Sylvester Turner’s death. Another in Tennessee is open after Representative Mark Green resigned. Special elections for those seats are still months away.

Arizona’s 7th District covers parts of Tucson and Phoenix and runs along the U.S.-Mexico border. Analysts said the district was not competitive, but the win still carries national weight.

With Grijalva’s election, the House now faces a turning point. The long-suppressed Epstein files are closer than ever to being brought to light. And it is Grijalva’s single signature that pushed the petition across the finish line.