Arizona election winner Adelita Grijalva unseated amid oath dispute

Adelita Grijalva, who won a Sept. 23 special election to fill the Arizona seat long held by her late father, remained unseated this week after state officials certified her victory and the Arizona attorney general threatened legal action if House Speaker Mike Johnson does not administer her oath. The dispute, unfolding amid a partial federal shutdown, centers on whether the House may swear in a member during brief pro forma sessions while the chamber is out of regular legislative session.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes notified Johnson in a letter that the state had transmitted a certificate of election and demanded Grijalva be sworn in immediately, warning that her office would consider litigation if the speaker failed to act. "We are keeping every option open to us, including litigation, to hold him accountable and make sure that Adelita is able to begin her work as Arizona's newest member of Congress," Mayes said.

Johnson has declined to administer the oath during pro forma sessions, saying the House will follow customary practice and will swear in the representative when the chamber is back in legislative session. "The House will follow customary practice by swearing in...