Televised debates between candidates running for Southern Arizonaβs vacant congressional seat will be held in June, about one month before the primary election.
Five Democrats and three Republicans are running in the July 15 primary to fill the congressional seat left vacant by the death of Rep. RaΓΊl Grijalva on March 13.
The Republican primary debate will be held at 6 p.m. on June 9.
The three Republican candidates are Daniel Butierez, who lost to Grijalva in the 2024 election, Jorge Rivas and Jimmy Rodriguez.
The Democratic primary debate will be held at 6 p.m. on June 10.
The five Democrats running for the seat are: Deja Foxx, who led βinfluencer strategyβ in Kamala Harrisβ first presidential campaign; Adelita Grijalva, a former Pima County Supervisor and daughter of the late congressman; Patrick Harris Sr.; former state lawmaker Daniel Hernandez; and Jose Malvido Jr.
The debates are co-sponsored by the Arizona Media Association, the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Arizona Public Media and Riester, a Phoenix-based advertising agency.
The two primary debates will air commercial-free from 6 p.m. to 6:56 p.m. in both English and Spanish with on-screen ASL interpretation, according to a news release.
The registration deadline to vote in the primary is June 16. Early voting begins June 18.
The general election will be held Sept. 23.
A debate between candidates in the general election will be held in late August. The exact date will be announced later this summer, the Arizona Media Association said.
The deadline to register for the general election is Aug. 25.
