Progressive TikTok Influencer Routed in Arizona Primary
Progressive TikTok personality Deja Foxx was trounced in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District, losing by more than 40 points in a blowout that jolted far-left activists.
The Associated Press called the race for Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva with just 65% of the vote tallied. Grijalva — daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva — won with 62%, while Foxx, 25, pulled only 21%.
For progressives hoping to swap a political dynasty for a social media star, it was a harsh reality check. Foxx, who has nearly 400,000 TikTok followers, entered the race just months after becoming eligible for Congress in April. Her campaign leaned heavily on her “lived experience” — growing up in Section 8 housing, relying on food stamps, and early activism for abortion access — and was backed by David Hogg and the PAC “Leaders We Deserve.”
It wasn’t enough. Grijalva was the frontrunner from day one, armed with name recognition, a deep donor base, and endorsements from Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Arizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
Foxx tried to cast the loss as a moral victory. “I couldn’t be prouder of what we built together,” she said, recalling how her movement began “alone in her bedroom” and “shattered expectations.” But online reaction was blunt. “She lost by 40,” one X user posted, citing an earlier Politico headline claiming Foxx had “a real shot.”
Despite raising more than $670,000 — mostly in small donations — and attempting to reinvent field campaigning through social media, Foxx couldn’t match Grijalva’s decades of local connections. In her victory speech, Grijalva thanked her father and the voters for keeping the family legacy alive.
“This is a victory not for me, but for our community and the progressive movement my dad started in Southern Arizona more than 50 years ago,” she said, framing the win as part of a broader fight “for our democracy” and “the dignity of working people.”
DSA Targets Top House Democrats in New York
Progressives in New York are eyeing even bigger fights. Democratic Socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani’s allies are weighing primary challenges next year against several high-profile Democrats — including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Jeffries’ camp has promised an “unrelenting” defense, warning that any attempt to topple the party’s top House leader will be met with force.
Mamdani, 33, shook the political landscape in June by defeating former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and nine other candidates in the Democratic mayoral primary. His win — making him a frontrunner to become New York City’s first Muslim mayor — also marked another lurch leftward for the city’s Democratic politics.
The Democratic Socialists of America hailed Mamdani’s victory as proof of a growing movement, urging supporters to join local chapters and work “to create the future we all deserve.” Now, DSA leaders are considering targeting other entrenched Democrats, including Reps. Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, and Yvette Clarke.