Who's running for Grijalva seat? Adrian Fontes considering bid, Regina Romero won't run
The field of candidates looking to succeed the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva is starting to take clearer shape a couple of days after his death left a vacancy in Arizona's congressional delegation.
Representing a liberal stretch of southern Arizona, the seat Grijalva, D-Ariz., left open is a coveted spot for Democrats. Whichever candidate wins the party's July 15 primary is all but assured to coast to victory in the general election two months later, and, if the usual laws of political gravity hold, can hold onto the seat for as long as they want it.
On Friday, one big name in Arizona politics signaled his interest in the race in the 7th Congressional District.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes is "seriously considering" a candidacy, his senior adviser Steven Slugocki told The Arizona Republic.
Fontes grew up in the border town of Nogales and he has held public office since 2017, first as Maricopa County Recorder and now as one of the top officials in Arizona's executive branch.
Also on Friday, another political heavyweight took herself out of the running. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero wrote on social media that being mayor was "the best way for me to continue our work on behalf of Tucsonans," ending speculation over whether she would throw her hat in the ring.
Several other possible candidates haven't yet confirmed whether they'll run.
One of them is Grijalva's daughter, Adelita, who has long been seen as a natural successor to the seat. She sits on the Pima County Board of Supervisors, a position her father held decades ago before he got elected to Congress.
Another is former state Rep. Daniel Hernandez, who has run for Congress in the Tucson area before. He didn't directly answer a question about his plans when reached for comment by The Republic: Instead he praised the late congressman's legacy and sent his condolences to the Grijalva family, noting that he, too, recently lost his father.
His siblings, state Reps. Alma and Consuelo Hernandez, were also seen as possible contenders, though they have told local media they don't plan to run.
A lesser-known candidate by the name of Manuel Vega has announced plans to run for the seat, too, introducing himself in a letter to media as a Democrat with experience in nursing and health care.
The election is expected to heat up in short order: Candidates will be able to formally file paperwork on Monday to begin the process of qualifying for the ballot.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Who's running for Raul Grijalva seat? The field starts to take shape
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