Rep. Raul Grijalva has died at 77, based on a press release from his workplace. The 12-term Arizona Democrat had been underneath remedy for most cancers.
“Rep. Grijalva fought an extended and courageous battle,” the assertion mentioned. “He handed away this morning as a consequence of problems of his most cancers remedies.”
Grijalva had been largely absent from Congress because the starting of the yr as a consequence of his well being struggles. He was set to retire from the Home on the finish of this time period and had stepped other than his place as the highest Democrat on the Home Pure Assets Committee.
Grijalva is the second Home Democrat to die in workplace this month. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas died on March 5.
Condolences streamed in from his fellow lawmakers.
“As one other Latino working in public service, I can say from expertise that he served as a task mannequin to many younger individuals throughout the Grand Canyon State. He spent his life as a voice for equality,” mentioned Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.).
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who succeeded Grijalva as a chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, instructed reporters “my ideas exit to his household, and I hope they know the way robust his legacy will probably be for a really very long time with the Progressive Caucus and actually with the individuals of Arizona.”
Arizona legislation requires the governor to carry a particular major election between 120 and 133 days after the emptiness happens, and for a particular basic election to be held 70 to 80 days after the first, which means the seat will not be crammed till the autumn at earliest.
