Arizona Daily Star endorses Raúl Grijalva (CD 3)

This endorsement was a no-brainer. Tea-Publican Gabriela Saucedo Mercer, as she did two years ago, has demonstrated that she is a batshit crazy Teabagger from the conspiracy theory fringes of the far-right. The GOP should be embarrassed to put forward such a deeply flawed and unqualified candidate for public office — twice!

Raúl Grijalva is co-chair of the Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Party fearlessly advocating for liberal policy positions, and is a strong voice and advocate for environmental issues, carrying on the legacy of Tucson’s beloved Congressman Mo Udall.

The editors of the Arizona Daily Star today endorsed the reelection of Congressman Raúl Grijalva. Endorsement: Grijalva in Congressional District 3:

Raúl Grijalva should be re-elected to Congress in District 3. He represents his district effectively and he’s a strong and consistent advocate for people who don’t have much power in our political system: people who are poor, minorities, immigrants and their families and young people.

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Grijalva can be polarizing. He’s a proud liberal, as are many of his constituents in this heavily Democratic district. He is unafraid to criticize fellow Democrats and the White House for playing politics with policies that affect people’s lives, like immigration reform.

He’s a practical member of Congress who gets into the weeds and is willing to make concessions. For example, we remember speaking with him years ago about the need for immigration reform. Back then, he said it had to be done as a whole-ball-of-wax comprehensive package — border security, a path to citizenship for people already in the country illegally, a guest-worker program.

In the years since, any hope for a comprehensive reform has faded, as Grijalva pointed out in a recent interview. He’s accepted that changes will need to be done piecemeal, and he’s working to make that happen in a Republican-held Congress.

Throughout it all he’s kept his focus on the people immigration policies affect, the families that are divided and the children, known as “dreamers,” who were brought into the U.S. without legal status as children.

While Grijalva is best known for his stand on immigration, he’s done significant work on environmental issues and protecting national parks and wilderness areas. He’s on the House Committee on National Resources and is outspoken on the need for Congress to address climate change.

Grijalva is also a consistent advocate for civil rights, health care access and education. He speaks knowledgeably and deeply about a range of issues facing the nation.

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Raúl Grijalva should be re-elected.