Headlines Don’t Guide Our Work (7/20/25)

This week, Adelita Grijalva won the Democratic primary in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District special election, a powerful reminder of why we stay focused on the work, even when the media tries to pull our attention elsewhere.

Adelita was a guest on one of our Zooms early in her candidacy, a connection made possible by the partnerships MFD has built over time. She was introduced to us by 21-year-old Tyler Hack, founder of the Christopher Street Project, an organization he launched in January. Adelita was their very first endorsed candidate. Tyler was introduced to us earlier this year by another young activist who has visited our Zooms many times over the past few years, Vincent Vertuccio. Supporting young activists who share our values is part of what we do, and this win is a reflection of that commitment.

While the race received plenty of media attention, most of it centered on one candidate: 25-year-old influencer Deja Foxx. The coverage was breathless, full of predictions that the race was tightening and the gap was closing. But when the votes were counted, Adelita won by over 40 percentage points. It’s a textbook example of how the media floods the zone with shiny distractions. Too often, it overlooks experienced, qualified candidates in favor of flashier narratives. But headlines don’t guide our work, values, strategy, and purpose do. We do the research. We show up early. We support the candidates who will deliver for their communities, whether or not they’re trending.

As we move through this critical stretch of 2025, let Adelita’s win remind us: if we stay focused, tune out the noise, and keep showing up, we can shape outcomes. The work matters. Let’s keep doing it.