Progressive social media figure Deja Foxx suffered a major loss in the race for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, falling behind by more than 40 points — a result that surprised many on the far left. According to the Associated Press, the election was called in favor of Adelita Grijalva, age 54, even before all ballots were counted. With approximately 65% of votes tallied, Grijalva held 62%, as reported by Trending Politics.
Foxx, a 25-year-old internet personality with nearly 400,000 TikTok followers, received only 21% of the vote. Progressive groups hoping to replace a long-standing political family with a rising online figure viewed the loss as a major setback. Foxx had received endorsements from activist David Hogg and the PAC “Leaders We Deserve.” She had only reached the minimum age to run for Congress a few months prior.
Her campaign focused heavily on her personal background — growing up in Section 8 housing, relying on food assistance programs, and her early activism for abortion access. However, that strategy failed to resonate with voters.
Grijalva, daughter of the late Representative Raúl Grijalva and a current Pima County Supervisor, entered the race as the heavy favorite. She had widespread support from major Democratic figures, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego. Her established name recognition and fundraising advantages helped secure a smooth win.
Foxx attempted to portray the loss as a symbolic success, saying, “I couldn’t be prouder of what we built together,” referencing her beginnings “alone in her bedroom” building a movement online. But the outcome was clear. One user on X highlighted the results bluntly: “She lost by 40,” noting that earlier media predictions suggested she might have had a “real chance.”
Despite raising more than $670,000 — mostly from small donors — Foxx’s attempt to redefine campaign strategy through social media did not translate to votes. Both candidates shared nearly identical policy positions, including support for Medicare for All, tribal sovereignty, environmental issues, and opposition to Donald Trump. In the end, voters selected the familiar name with longstanding community ties. During her victory speech, Grijalva expressed gratitude to her father and local supporters:
“This win is not just mine — it belongs to our community and to the progressive movement that began in Southern Arizona over 50 years ago.”
Meanwhile in New York, progressives are attempting to challenge the Democratic leadership. Allies of Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, are reportedly considering primary campaigns against multiple Democratic members of Congress in New York City — including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
A senior advisor to Jeffries warned that anyone who attempts to challenge him in the primaries will face a “strong and relentless” counter-effort, according to Fox News.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old assemblyman from Queens and Ugandan-born democratic socialist, made national news after winning the Democratic mayoral primary in New York City — defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo and multiple other candidates. His victory positions him as a potential first Muslim mayor of the city and signals a growing shift within the party’s far-left wing.
In response to Mamdani’s win, the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) stated:
“Our movement is bigger than one individual, one election, or one city.”
DSA also encouraged supporters to join local chapters and continue organizing.
Following Mamdani’s success, DSA leadership is reportedly exploring the possibility of backing primary challengers against Jeffries and other New York congressional Democrats, including Representatives Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, and Yvette Clarke.
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