(MENAFN) US House Speaker Mike Johnson will officially swear in Arizona Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva on Wednesday at approximately 4 pm local time (2100 GMT), according to reports.

Grijalva’s swearing-in comes seven weeks after her victory in the seat previously held by her late father, following pressure from Democrats and a lawsuit from Arizona’s attorney general to compel the Speaker to act.

Johnson defended the delay, noting that Grijalva’s September 23 election took place while the House was out of session due to a government shutdown and that he would proceed once Congress reconvened.

In a video message shared on the social media platform X, Grijalva said she “almost can’t believe it’s true” after the extended wait, adding that “one person can’t silence the voices of 813,000 people.” She criticized the political maneuvering that postponed her seating and pledged to ensure “this can never happen again.”

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