Progressive TikTok ‘Star’ Gets Crushe
In Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, progressive influencer Deja Foxx lost decisively to Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva. The Associated Press called the race early, with Grijalva securing 62% of the vote to Foxx’s 21%, a margin of over 40 points.
Grijalva, the daughter of the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, entered the race as the clear favorite. She had significant establishment backing from prominent progressives like Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Foxx, a 25-year-old TikTok figure with a large online following, campaigned on her “lived experience.” This included her upbringing in Section 8 housing and her early activism for abortion rights.
Despite raising over $670,000, mostly from small donors, and attempting to build momentum through social media, Foxx’s campaign failed to gain traction. She called her effort a movement that “shattered expectations,” but the decisive loss highlighted its limitations.
Grijalva’s victory was attributed to her family’s deep local roots and decades of community presence. Although the candidates had similar progressive platforms, voters ultimately favored the trusted Grijalva name.
In her victory speech, Grijalva framed the win as a continuation of her father’s legacy. She stated it was a victory for the community and the progressive movement he started over 50 years ago.
Meanwhile, energized by recent wins elsewhere, progressives are considering primary challenges in New York. This includes a potential race against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, setting the stage for further internal Democratic conflicts.
