You might know her from TikTok. Or maybe you saw her speaking at the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Deja Foxx is everywhere—except, as it turns out, in the winner's circle for Arizona’s 7th Congressional District.
Honestly, it was a wild ride. Foxx wasn't just another candidate; she was a 25-year-old activist who literally helped run digital strategy for the Kamala Harris presidential campaign. She had the momentum, the social media following, and the backing of Gen Z icons like David Hogg. But when the deja foxx election results finally dropped in the July 2025 special primary, they told a very different story than the one playing out on her Instagram feed.
What Actually Happened with the Deja Foxx Election Results?
Let's look at the hard numbers because they’re pretty staggering. Despite having over a million dollars in her war chest and a national spotlight, Foxx didn't just lose—she was beat by a landslide.
Adelita Grijalva, the daughter of the late Representative Raúl Grijalva, walked away with about 61.5% of the vote. Foxx? She managed 22.4%. That’s a 40-point gap. People were shocked, especially since some internal polling leading up to the July 15, 2025 primary suggested she might be within striking distance.
Why the disconnect?
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Basically, Arizona's 7th District is a stronghold of traditional Democratic values and deep-rooted family ties. Adelita Grijalva didn't just have the "Grijalva" name; she had years of local service as a Pima County Supervisor. Foxx tried to frame this as "nepotism" or "inherited politics," but for the voters in Tucson and the surrounding counties, Grijalva represented stability and a proven track record.
A Breakdown of the Primary Tallies
- Adelita Grijalva: 38,679 votes (61.5%)
- Deja Foxx: 14,078 votes (22.4%)
- Daniel Hernández Jr.: 8,541 votes (13.6%)
- The rest: Tiny percentages for Patrick Harris Sr. and Jose Malvido Jr.
The total turnout was relatively low, which is typical for a summer special election primary. But in a low-turnout race, the "ground game"—the literal knocking on doors and talking to seniors—usually beats a "viral game" every single time.
Why the Gen Z Surge Didn't Happen
There’s this idea that if you have enough followers, you can win an election. It's kinda the "influencer-to-congress" pipeline dream. Foxx is brilliant at storytelling; she talked about her experience with homelessness, her time working at a gas station, and her fight for reproductive rights. She even got the "Leaders We Deserve" PAC to throw their weight behind her.
But here’s the thing.
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Followers don't equal voters. Most of Foxx's 100,000+ followers don't live in Arizona’s 7th District. They live in New York, LA, or London. They can’t cast a ballot in a Tucson primary. While she was raising nearly a million dollars from small-dollar donors across the country, Grijalva was leaning on the people who had known her family for three decades.
It’s a classic case of national fame vs. local trust.
The Strategy That Backfired
Foxx leaned hard into the "generational divide" argument. She was 25—the minimum age to serve in the House—and she wasn't shy about it. She argued that the seat became vacant because the previous incumbent died in office, and that the party shouldn't just "hand over" seats like heirlooms.
Some voters found this refreshing. Others? They found it a bit disrespectful to the legacy of Raúl Grijalva, who was a titan in Arizona politics. When you’re running in a district that deeply respects its history, calling the frontrunner a product of nepotism is a risky move. In this case, it sort of feels like it alienated the older, more reliable voters who actually show up for special elections in July.
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What This Means for Future Gen Z Candidates
Is this the end of the road for Foxx? Probably not. She’s young, articulate, and clearly has a future in the party. But these deja foxx election results serve as a massive reality check for the "online-first" campaign strategy.
If you want to win, you have to win the senior centers and the local unions, not just the comment section. Even with the backing of people like Maxwell Frost (the first Gen Z member of Congress), the path to D.C. still runs through local precinct committeemen and neighborhood leaders.
Lessons from the 2025 Special Election
- Name Recognition is King: In a crowded primary, a familiar name provides a "safety" factor for voters who aren't glued to political Twitter.
- Digital Reach has Limits: You can have a viral video with 5 million views, but if none of those viewers are registered in your zip code, it won't help you on election night.
- The "Lived Experience" Pitch: Foxx’s story is powerful. Using government programs like SNAP and Medicaid to get through college is a narrative that resonates, but it needs to be paired with local policy wins.
Moving Forward After the Loss
Adelita Grijalva went on to win the general election in September 2025, which wasn't a surprise given how blue the district is. For Foxx, the next steps are likely focused on the 2026 midterms or perhaps a state-level run where she can build the "local resume" that critics felt she lacked.
She’s already proven she can raise money. She’s proven she can command a stage. Now, she basically has to prove she can win over the people in her own backyard who have been voting for the same names for twenty years.
If you're looking to get involved in local politics or want to support young candidates, the best thing you can do isn't just following them on TikTok. It’s checking your registration, finding out who is running for your local school board or city council, and actually showing up for those weirdly timed special elections. That’s where the real power is shifted.
To keep tabs on what's next for this movement, watch the FEC filings for the 2026 cycle. You can also follow local Arizona political reporters who aren't just looking at the national headlines, as they're the ones who usually spot the next "Deja Foxx" before they ever go viral.