Democrat Adelita Grijalva and Republican Daniel Butierez faced off Tuesday evening, pleading their case to voters in Arizona's Seventh Congressional District (CD7).
The two, vying to represent constituents for the remainder of Raúl Grijalva's term after the Representative's death earlier this year.
The candidates—both boasting deep history in Southern Arizona—butted heads on the border, the economy and the effects of federal funding cuts.
For Butierez, CD7 needs "different" leadership, "someone who has built things, accomplished great things.”
For Grijalva, the people of CD7 need "representation that is true… someone that looks like you, someone who shares your hopes, your dreams, your roots and your struggles.”
She says that representation is important at a time when she says federal cuts will directly affect Arizonans.
“There’s no way that Tucson, the city of Tucson for example, is going to be able to absorb the five million dollar cut they’re going to see in the community block grant programs," she said. "So, what’s going to happen is we’re just going to have people without.”
Grijalva says without SNAP, Medicaid and education programs, communities could be devastated. However, Butierez argued that Tucson over-relies on social programs, saying "they’re just giving money away in Tucson.”
Instead, he sided with President Donald Trump's vision for social programs, especially those focused on Tucson's unhoused population, which Butierez listed as a top priority.
“Federal dollars need to target treatment programs before they do housing programs," he said. "If you haven’t dealt with the undercurrent, problem, then you’re just wasting money and spreading out the problem."
In Butierez's eyes, drug addiction and homelessness are problems that can be tackled at the Southern border.
“I do believe we need to finish the wall," he said. "We need to get all of those that came here during the last four years; get them out of the country because what’s happened is our courts are overwhelmed.”
He says that way, courts will prioritize migrants who crossed into the United States legally. Grijalva, on the other hand, had a different vision for reform.
“What I will fight for is comprehensive, humane immigration reform with pathways to citizenship," Grijalva said. "There are people in our communities that have lived here for over two decades and still do not have a pathway to citizenship.”
She said her concern was Immigration and Customs Enforcement's growing budget drawing funding and resources from other issues.
The Special General Election for CD7 will take place on Sept. 23. The last day to register to vote is Aug. 25. Early voting begins on Aug. 27, and early ballots will be mailed to residents on the same day.
