In a decisive defeat, progressive TikTok personality Deja Foxx was trounced in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, losing by over 40 points in a race that underscored the limits of social media stardom in politics.
The Associated Press declared 54-year-old Adelita Grijalva the winner with 62% of the vote when just 65% of ballots were tallied, according to Trending Politics. Foxx, a 25-year-old with nearly 400,000 TikTok followers, managed only 21%.
The outcome was a wake-up call for progressives banking on Foxx’s digital fame to upend a political legacy. Backed by activist David Hogg and the “Leaders We Deserve” PAC, Foxx leaned on her personal story—growing up in Section 8 housing, relying on food stamps, and advocating for abortion rights. She only became eligible to run for Congress in April.
Grijalva, a Pima County Supervisor and daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, entered as the frontrunner, bolstered by endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego. Her deep local ties and robust funding secured an easy win.
Foxx tried to spin the loss positively. “I couldn’t be prouder of what we built together,” she said, emphasizing her campaign’s start “alone in her bedroom” and its challenge to expectations. But the numbers were stark.
“She lost by 40,” an X user noted, citing a Politico headline that once hinted Foxx had a chance. Despite raising over $670,000, mostly from small donors, and innovating with social media-driven campaigning, Foxx couldn’t compete with Grijalva’s name recognition.
Both candidates championed similar progressive causes—Medicare for All, tribal sovereignty, environmental justice, and opposition to Donald Trump—but voters stuck with the Grijalva name. In her victory speech, Grijalva honored her father’s legacy.
“This win is for our community and the progressive vision my dad began in Southern Arizona over 50 years ago,” she said. “It’s about fighting for democracy, the dignity of workers, and the values that define us.”
Meanwhile, in New York, progressive momentum is stirring. Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani’s allies are eyeing primary challenges against several congressional Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, according to Fox News.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Ugandan-born assemblyman, made waves with his landslide win in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary, defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and others. His victory positions him as a potential first Muslim mayor and signals a leftward shift in the Democratic Party.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) celebrated Mamdani’s win, stating, “This movement is bigger than one person, election, city, or organization.” They urged supporters to join local DSA chapters to sustain the fight.
Following Mamdani’s success, DSA leaders are reportedly considering challenges against other New York City Democrats, including Reps. Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, and Yvette Clarke. A senior advisor to Jeffries warned that any attempt to unseat him would face a “forceful and unrelenting” response, per Fox News.
