Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s death Thursday ended more than five decades of public service in which he rose through the ranks of progressive and Latino politics and environmental activism.
Months before the Arizonan’s death from complications stemming from cancer, Grijalva, 77, had been ousted as the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee.
That position, along with his decade of leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, represented the peak of his influence in national politics, where he advocated for priorities including aggressive climate change action, large-scale land conservation and Native American sovereignty.
“From permanently protecting the Grand Canyon for future generations to strengthening the Affordable Care Act, his proudest moments in Congress have always been guided by community voices,” Grijalva’s staff said in a statement Thursday announcing his passing.
