Arizona opinion: We need a climate and community champion — again

In the summer of 2021, I met Congressman Raúl Grijalva during a virtual meeting with Yuma farm workers as we advocated for immigration reform. When I asked if we could count on his support, his response surprised me: “What are you going to do to win immigration reform?” At first, I didn’t understand. But over time, I realized he wasn’t dismissing me, he was challenging me. As someone who had long fought for workers, immigrants, and the environment, he was reminding me that real leadership means taking ownership of the fight for justice.

Today, with a special election underway to fill the late Congressman’s seat in Arizona’s 7th congressional district, I can’t help but think back to that lesson. With so much at stake — our climate, our communities, our democracy — we cannot afford to sit this one out or treat it as just another election.

Grijalva spent 22 years serving Arizona with an unshakeable commitment to justice. He introduced the Fairness for Farm Workers Act three times, fighting to end unfair labor exemptions rooted in racism. He championed the Asunción Valdivia Heat Illness and Fatality Prevention Act to protect workers from deadly temperatures, a growing danger as Arizona experiences record-breaking heat. And he co-sponsored the A. Donald McEachin Environmental Justice for All Act, working to stop polluters from targeting low-income and Latino communities.

He didn’t just represent Arizona — he represented our values of dignity, fairness, and a fierce commitment to people and their communities. With federal climate investments now under threat, Arizona cannot afford to lose that kind of leadership.

As the environmental coordinator for Poder Latinx, I see firsthand how deeply climate justice is tied to the well-being of our communities. Extreme heat endangers outdoor workers and vulnerable populations. Pollution plagues our neighborhoods. Wildfires and water scarcity threaten our homes and food systems. That’s why we organize across Arizona to demand bold climate solutions — not only because they are necessary, but because they are just.

Environmental justice is about saving lives and protecting the places we call home.

Arizona is ground zero for climate impacts. From rising temperatures to shrinking water supplies, we are living with the consequences of inaction. But we are also home to incredible potential — solar energy, vast public lands, and millions of people ready to lead the way. What we need now is someone willing to fight — not just for photo ops, but for real people.

Arizona’s 7th District deserves someone who will carry forward Grijalva’s legacy and meet this moment with the urgency it demands. Someone who understands that climate justice is crucial.

The primary election is July 15. If you live in District 7, which includes Tucson, Yuma, Nogales, Avondale and Tolleson, your vote will help decide who takes up this enormous responsibility.

This is more than a political decision; it’s a moral one. Arizonans deserve a leader who will deliver on the promise of clean air, safe water, and affordable energy. We need someone who will protect our communities — urban and rural alike — from rising heat, high energy costs, and environmental injustice. A leader who will fight for clean energy investments, create good-paying jobs, expand energy-efficient homes, and ensure every family has the opportunity to thrive. A voice that, like Grijalva’s, speaks truth to power and keeps fighting even when the cameras are off.

I never met the Congressman again after that one interaction. But his lesson stayed with me: real change begins with us. It’s up to us — organizers, workers, parents, voters — to show up and elect a leader who doesn’t just talk the talk, but walks the walk.

Let’s honor Congressman Grijalva’s legacy not with words, but with action. Let’s register and vote for a champion who will protect Arizona — its workers, its land and its future.