Arizona House Democrats press Mike Johnson to swear in Adelita Grijalva

Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego hold press conference at speaker’s office over his refusal to swear in new Democrat

Arizona’s Democratic senators pressed Mike Johnson on Wednesday to swear in their state’s newest representative, Adelita Grijalva, but the Republican House speaker refused to budge until funding for the government was restored.

Grijalva, a Democrat, last month won a special election to replace her late father, Raúl M Grijalva, in a southern Arizona House district. However, she has been unable to assume her new role because Johnson has not administered the oath of office.