House Natural Resources top Democrat Raúl Grijalva plans to return to Capitol Hill in November for the postelection lame-duck session following a cancer scare.
But some committee members have privately grumbled about Grijalva’s extended absence since earlier this year and wonder about his ability to remain ranking member or become chair, lawmakers and aides told POLITICO’s E&E News.
The Arizona progressive Democrat has said his next term would be his last, setting up a vacancy atop committee Democrats for the first time since 2015 — one that fellow progressive Jared Huffman of California is eager to fill. Grijalva is vowing to hold on to his post next Congress and is defending his ability to serve.
“I’ve been on that committee for 22 years, OK? So it’s not like I don’t know what I’m doing,” Grijalva said. “I hope to retain it. I hope I prove myself to my colleagues that I can do that job and that I have the capacity to do that job.”
For now, Grijalva, in interviews with POLITICO’s E&E News, is declining to endorse Huffman as his chosen successor. That’s not sitting well with some members.
“I think it’s important that [Grijalva] acknowledges that Jared has worked very hard and, I think, has earned the privilege to earn the support of the rest of us on the committee,” said one panel Democrat, who was granted anonymity to discuss a highly sensitive situation. “I hope there can be a graceful passing of the torch to him when the time is right.”
While not mentioning Huffman by name, Grijalva suggested the next Democratic leader on the committee should be from the Southwest. Huffman is from Northern California.
“The people behind me in seniority are good people on the committee, but some of the people that have seniority are more oriented toward other parts of the environment — you know, water, streams, fisheries,” Grijalva said of his potential successor.
“What I think is important is to have somebody from the Southwest, somebody that understands desert and the relationship to water, understands Indigenous tribes.”
“I think that’s going to be a difficult one,” he continued. “I really think it should be native to the district, native to its population and native to history.”
Grijalva added: “That probably requires looking elsewhere for a ranking member or a chairman.”
The apparent nonendorsement came as a surprise to Huffman, the top Democrat on the Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee.
Huffman said Grijalva had once supported his leadership ambitions. The Californian is second behind Grijalva in seniority and represents nearly two dozen tribes.
“I had a heart-to-heart dinner meeting with Raúl a year ago, before he got sick, and he confirmed what he’d told me several times before: He said he wanted me to succeed him,” Huffman said.
“He also said I was the obvious choice and that I’d do a great job. I know he’s gone through a lot this year, but if his opinion has changed, that’s not something he has shared with me.”
Grijalva, asked about Huffman’s comment, said he remembers the conversation differently.
“We went to dinner and he said, ‘Would you think about this?’ and I said sure. I was being considerate because he was very earnest about … my stepping down as [top Democrat] and him assuming the seat,” Grijalva said.
“Kind of uncomfortable, but there it is, and I’m not stepping down. If he wants to make it a challenge with the whole caucus, then fine.”
After the election, the House Democratic Steering Committee will huddle to field nominees for committee chair or ranking members. Huffman has not said he will challenge Grijalva but hasn’t ruled it out either.
It’s unclear whether such a move would succeed. Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.), who is vice ranking member, said, “A great leader leaves a lasting impact, and ranking member Grijalva’s influence will be felt on the House Natural Resources Committee and throughout the Halls of Congress for decades to come.”
Kamlager-Dove pointed to Grijalva’s work for Indigenous communities and disadvantaged communities. “He recognizes the importance of shepherding new and unique voices into this space,” she said, adding that she looks forward to “continuing to learn from him in the 119th Congress.”
Rep. Melanie Stansbury (D-N.M.) said Grijalva “has led the Natural Resources Committee with a fierce commitment to our Tribal nations and protecting our environment for years, and continues to do so.”
She added, “During this challenging time, Ranking Member Grijalva has continued to lead alongside our amazing democratic colleagues on the committee.”
‘Pass the torch’?
Grijalva, 76, may use the lame duck session to show colleagues he’s up to the job of leading committee Democrats. If the party retakes the House, Grijalva would be poised to take back the chair’s gavel.
“We’ve all been very concerned about his well-being, ’cause we’ve heard that he was coming back a number of times, and he hasn’t come back,” said the Democrat who spoke on condition of anonymity. “The first priority is getting better. Duing that time, of course, he has not been, to my knowledge, … particularly engaged in what’s going on.”
The lawmaker suggested Grijalva’s health would be a concern should Huffman launch an open challenge for the top job.
“If Raúl is capable and up to the job and is wanting to do the job and had agreed that he would step aside at the end of 2025 or 2026 and pass the torch to whoever’s next, I think that would be a graceful thing to do,” the Democrat said.
“The concern is if Raúl is not physically capable of being present at committee or in meetings and all that, that would have to be a consideration.”
Grijalva defended his time working away from Washington, saying he is “very fortunate” to “have an excellent staff … that have kept me not only up to date but ahead of things.”
“And we haven’t missed that much given the fact that the Republicans haven’t done a damn thing,” Grijalva said. “The issue is who’s going to control the majority in the House and the Senate and who the president is going to be. If those get settled for Democrats, we have an opportunity to fundamentally change some things.”
Holding Democrats together
Grijalva represents Arizona’s 7th District, a broad region that runs from the southern part of Phoenix to the border with Mexico.
After more than two decades in the House, Grijalva’s retirement may lead to a contested primary in the heavily Democratic district. He’s holding off on any endorsements.
“We have really, really good candidates coming forward,” Grijalva said. “There’s no shortage of qualified women and candidates for this seat.”
“It’s going to be a hard-fought battle, but I’m not going to anoint anybody cause that usually doesn’t work,” he added.
Several prominent regional Democrats could make a run for the seat. Grijalva mentioned the mayor of Tucson, Regina Romero, as a potential choice.
And his daughter, Adelita Grijalva, is currently the Pima County supervisor — a position the elder Grijalva held before being elected to Congress.
“Being a father of three daughters, I do not take the presumption to speak for them,” he said.
When asked about his priorities for the end of this Congress and next, Grijalva said he’s focused on holding Democrats together and moving forward.
“If we are the majority, which I think we will be, I think it’s putting together agendas that we can pass both out of the House and the Senate and leave it to Harris to sign,” he said, referring to Kamala Harris, the vice president and Democratic presidential nominee. “I think we have a real opportunity to do that.”
Policy concerns
Grijalva will have to contend during the lame duck and next session with growing support within his party to ease environmental permitting, change the National Environmental Policy Act and make it easier to mine.
“I think it’s a panicked issue. I think people panicked, like, ‘This will make me appear to be more middle of the road,’ when in reality, just watch the mining industry … whatever comes up, whether it’s permitting, whether it’s categorical exclusion … it’s never enough, and I don’t think that’s going to change,” said Grijalva.
Grijalva — like many other Democrats — has tried for years to make hardrock mining companies pay royalties. He has also wanted to scrap the General Mining Act of 1872’s provisions giving miners leeway to develop federal land.
“I think we have to make our stand next session to say, That’s enough, and you have to pay your fair share. You have to have real studies as to the impact of decisions that we’re making,’” he said.
Grijalva has also focused on opposing specific projects, including a copper mine planned for an area known as Oak Flat, a site that many members of the San Carlos Apache consider to be sacred in the Tonto National Forest.
“I’m disappointed that sometimes the [issues] around mining … are throwaway issues, in the sense that you know, on the scale of environmental issues, they’re at the bottom,” said Grjijalva.
“I think that’s a mistake. … Mining pays no fees. If you find it, you can keep it. You don’t have to pay any royalty [that] gas and oil have to pay,” he continued. “They have a free ride right now, and mining continues to prosper from the fact that there’s no regulatory controls over what they do and the consequences of what they do.”
If Grijalva takes back the gavel next year, his plan is to make climate change a top concern.
“Climate is the big one,” Grijalva said. “That encompasses everything — from environmental justice, to clean air [and] clean water. … That’s the umbrella over everything we’ve done.”
