Representative Adelita S. Grijalva is a lifelong public servant, advocate, and proud Southern Arizona resident. Raised on Tucson’s south side with her two sisters, she graduated from Pueblo High School and earned a degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona.
Before her election to the U.S. House of Representatives, Adelita worked for more than 25 years at Pima County Teen Court, guiding court-involved youth and their families through a restorative juvenile diversion program. She has long championed public-private partnerships and continues to serve on community organization boards, advancing equity, collaboration, and opportunity.
Adelita was first elected to public office in 2002 to the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) Governing Board, the largest school district in Tucson and second-largest in Arizona. As a volunteer elected official, she led efforts to expand preschool access, defended Mexican-American Studies and bilingual education from legislative attacks, and fought for investments in historically underserved schools.
In 2020, she was elected to the Pima County Board of Supervisors, becoming the first Latina and only the second woman to serve as Chair. Known for building consensus, she tackled major regional challenges including affordable housing, environmental protection, climate resiliency, and community safety. Her accomplishments include launching the county’s first free preschool program for low- and middle-income families, securing major affordable housing investments, and protecting open spaces across the Sonoran Desert.
Adelita lives in Tucson with her husband, Sol, and their three children. She is the daughter of Congressman Raúl Grijalva and Ramona Grijalva.
