Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) has passed away after a cancer battle.
He was 77.
“Rep. Grijalva fought a long and brave battle. He passed away this morning due to complications of his cancer treatments,” his office said in a statement.
A statement from the Office of Raúl M. Grijalva. pic.twitter.com/DJkWNfwHfn
— Raul M. Grijalva (@RepRaulGrijalva) March 13, 2025
A closer look:
Per 12 News:
Democratic Congressman Raul Grijalva died March 13 in Tucson after being diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2024, the congressman’s office said. He was 77 years old.
Grijalva ran for and won a 12th term in Congress in November. One month before the election, he vowed that if he won, he would be serving his final term.
The longest-serving member of Arizona’s congressional delegation had cast just a handful of votes in 2025. Grijalva was absent for much of 2024, as well.
“Rep. Grijalva’s kind and humble nature was known to many. He was approachable by all because he believed people should be treated as equals,” Grijalva’s congressional staff said in a prepared statement.
“He loved to give gifts, blare music in his office, and get to know people for who they are. The Congressman cared deeply for and was proud of his staff, the dedicated public servants who spent 22 years fighting alongside him for the people of Southern Arizona. Together, we helped families get back on their feet and remained a source of help and hope when people had nowhere else to turn. We are heartbroken in the face of this news but determined to carry on his legacy.”
BREAKING: Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ) has died, per an official statement from his office. Condolences to Mr. Grijalva’s family and loved ones. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/uXHip0wg9B
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 13, 2025
🚨Just in: Arizona Democrat Congressman Raul Grijalva has passed away. He was 77 years old. He was battling cancer at the time. pic.twitter.com/KsUmK2KYV9
— The Calvin Coolidge Project (@TheCalvinCooli1) March 13, 2025
NBC News reports:
Grijalva, who served in the House for more than 20 years, was first elected to Congress in 2002. During that time he served as chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and, most recently, as the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee.
“He was steadfast in his commitment to produce lasting change through environmental policies — as he would say, ‘it’s for the babies.’ He led the Natural Resources Committee without fear of repercussion, but with an urgency of the consequences of inaction,” his staff said in a statement.
Grijalva began his career in public service as a community organizer in Tucson, Ariz. He chaired the Tucson Unified School District Governing Board for six years before serving on the Pima County Board of Supervisors for more than a decade.