Raúl Grijalva facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Raúl Grijalva
Official portrait, 2014
Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee
In office January 3, 2023 – January 3, 2025
Preceded by	Bruce Westerman
Succeeded by	Jared Huffman
In office January 3, 2015 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Peter DeFazio
Succeeded by	Rob Bishop
Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee
In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023
Preceded by	Rob Bishop
Succeeded by	Bruce Westerman
Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus
In office January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Barbara Lee
Succeeded by	Pramila Jayapal
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona
In office January 3, 2003 – March 13, 2025
Preceded by	Constituency established
Succeeded by	Vacant
Constituency	7th district (2003–2013) 3rd district (2013–2023) 7th district (2023–2025)
Personal details
Born	Raúl Manuel Grijalva (1948-02-19)February 19, 1948 Canoa Ranch, near Green Valley, Arizona, U.S.
Died	March 13, 2025(2025-03-13) (aged 77) Tucson, Arizona, U.S.
Political party	Raza Unida (before 1974) Democratic (1974–2025)
Spouse	Ramona Grijalva ​ (m. 1971)​
Children	3, including Adelita
Education	University of Arizona (BA)
Signature

Raúl Manuel Grijalva (born February 19, 1948 – died March 13, 2025) was an American politician. He served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Arizona from 2003 until his death in 2025. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Grijalva represented different areas of Arizona during his time in Congress. These areas included parts of Tucson, Yuma, Nogales, and some parts of Phoenix.

In October 2024, Grijalva announced he would not run for re-election in 2026. This was because he was receiving treatment for cancer. He passed away before finishing his last term. A special election for his seat, the 2025 Arizona's 7th congressional district special election, will be held on September 23, 2025, to choose his replacement.

Early Life and Education

Raúl Grijalva was born on February 19, 1948, in Canoa Ranch, Arizona. His father was a migrant worker from Mexico. Raúl graduated from Sunnyside High School in 1967. He later earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Arizona.

In 1974, Grijalva was elected to the Tucson Unified School District board. He served there until 1986. A school in Tucson, Grijalva Elementary School, was named after him in 1987. He also worked as a director at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center. Later, he was an Assistant Dean at the University of Arizona. From 1989 to 2002, Grijalva was a member of the Pima County Board of Supervisors. He was the chair of the board from 2000 to 2002. He left this role in 2002 to run for Congress.

Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives

The 3rd Congressional District of Arizona, which Grijalva represented from 2013 to 2023.

Raúl Grijalva was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2002. He represented Arizona's 7th congressional district.

Key Actions in Congress

As a new congressman, Grijalva introduced a bill to help members of the Tohono Oʼodham Nation become U.S. citizens. This tribe has land that crosses the U.S.–Mexico border.

In 2019, Grijalva became the chair of the House Natural Resources Committee. This committee deals with issues like national parks and natural resources. He received a high grade for his work in overseeing government activities.

On January 6, 2021, Grijalva was at the U.S. Capitol when it was attacked. He called the event "one of the darkest and most shameful days" for the country. He also called the people involved "domestic terrorists." Grijalva believed President Donald Trump was responsible for the attack. He supported efforts to remove Trump from office and voted to impeach him.

In February 2021, Grijalva supported the American Rescue Plan. This plan aimed to help the country recover from economic challenges. He also supported increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Committee Work

For the 118th Congress, Raúl Grijalva was involved in important committees:

• Committee on Education and the Workforce
  • Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education
  • Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development
• Committee on Natural Resources (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources

Groups He Joined

Grijalva was a member of many groups in Congress called caucuses. These groups bring together members who share similar interests or goals. Some of the caucuses he belonged to included:

• Congressional Progressive Caucus
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus
• Congressional Equality Caucus
• Congressional Arts Caucus
• Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
• Congressional Voting Rights Caucus
• Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus
• Blue Collar Caucus
• Congressional Coalition on Adoption
• Rare Disease Caucus

Political Views and Actions

Grijalva speaking at a tax policy event in Phoenix, Arizona, February 2018.

Raúl Grijalva was known for his progressive political views. He was a former co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. This group focuses on liberal and progressive policies. Many activist groups gave him high scores for his voting record.

Environment and Natural Resources

Grijalva was a strong supporter of environmental protection. He advocated for changes to mining laws. He also worked to improve oversight of offshore oil drilling. He introduced a bill to create a permanent National Landscape Conservation System. This system helps protect public lands.

He was considered for the role of United States Secretary of the Interior by President Barack Obama. This job involves managing federal lands and natural resources.

Grijalva criticized proposed changes to the Endangered Species Act in 2018. He said these changes would favor businesses over protecting endangered animals and plants.

Immigration and Border Issues

Grijalva strongly opposed Arizona's SB 1070 law. This law allowed police to check citizenship documents. He believed it could lead to unfair treatment based on race. He also called for groups to avoid holding events in Arizona because of the law. When a judge stopped parts of the law, Grijalva ended his call for economic actions.

He also criticized the deployment of National Guard troops to the U.S.–Mexico border. He felt it was a symbolic act that did not solve immigration problems. Grijalva supported the DREAM Act. This act would provide a path to legal status for young undocumented immigrants. He also opposed building a border fence.

Budget and Economy

As co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Grijalva helped create "alternative budgets." These budgets offered different ways to manage government spending. In 2011, the caucus introduced the "People's Budget." This plan aimed to balance the budget in 10 years. It was praised by some economists.

In 2012, they introduced the "Budget for All." This plan included a new idea for a small tax on very wealthy individuals. Grijalva voted against the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.

Oil Industry and Climate Change

Grijalva was a vocal critic of how the government oversaw the oil drilling industry. He called for investigations into safety issues on oil platforms. After the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in 2010, he pushed for stronger rules for the oil industry. He also introduced a bill to remove the limit on how much oil companies have to pay for environmental cleanups.

In 2015, Grijalva asked for information from scientists who disagreed with the common view on climate change. He wanted to know if they received funding from fossil fuel companies. Some scientific groups criticized this action, saying it could limit academic freedom. Grijalva later said he was willing to change his request.

Gun Control

Grijalva supported stricter rules for buying and owning guns. He also supported better enforcement of existing gun laws. He was a co-sponsor of the 2007 Assault Weapons Ban.

Health Care

Grijalva was a strong supporter of a "public option" in health care. This would allow people to choose a government-run health insurance plan. He supported the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). He believed it was a big improvement for health care in the U.S. He also supported single-payer health care, where the government pays for most health services.

Native American Rights

Grijalva's congressional district included several Native American tribes. He supported the independence of Native American governments. He believed the U.S. government should have a strong relationship with Tribal Nations. He also advocated for protecting their lands and sacred sites.

In 2010, Grijalva introduced the "RESPECT Act." This bill aimed to require the federal government to consult with tribal governments. This consultation would happen before any federal activities that might affect tribal communities or lands.

Presidential Elections

After the 2004 presidential election, Grijalva was one of the representatives who voted not to count Ohio's electoral votes. He was concerned about voting problems. He also objected to North Carolina's electoral votes in the 2016 presidential election.

Puerto Rico Statehood

In June 2023, Raúl Grijalva visited Puerto Rico. He discussed the possibility of Puerto Rico becoming a U.S. state. As chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, he helped pass the Puerto Rico Status Act in the House of Representatives.

Political Campaigns

In the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, Grijalva first supported John Edwards. He later switched his support to Barack Obama.

During the 2016 primaries, Grijalva supported Bernie Sanders for president. He was a co-chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus at the time.

On July 3, 2024, Grijalva publicly called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Personal Life

Raúl Grijalva was married to Ramona Grijalva. They had three daughters, including Adelita Grijalva. Adelita is a Pima County Supervisor and was a member of the Tucson Unified School District board. Grijalva was a Catholic. He enjoyed hiking and was a fan of the Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team.

On April 2, 2024, Grijalva announced he had been diagnosed with cancer. He began treatment for it. On March 13, 2025, Grijalva passed away in Tucson due to complications from his cancer treatment. He was 77 years old.

His funeral mass was held at the Cathedral of Saint Augustine in Tucson. Notable people like Governor Katie Hobbs and Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez spoke at his funeral.

His daughter, Adelita Grijalva, is the Democratic candidate to take his place in Congress. The special election for this seat will be held soon.

See also

In Spanish: Raúl Grijalva para niños

• List of Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States Congress
• List of United States Congress members who died in office (2000–present)