In a shocking primary election result, progressive Democrat Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old social media influencer, was soundly defeated by incumbent Adelita Grijalva in Arizona’s 7th Congressional District.
Foxx, who made a name for herself on TikTok with nearly 400,000 followers, was crushed by more than 40 points, a margin that sent ripples through the progressive wing of the Democratic Party and left many far-left activists reeling.
Foxx’s defeat represents a serious blow to the growing movement of progressive social media stars who are hoping to replace established political dynasties with digital celebrities.
Despite her high-profile endorsements from figures like David Hogg and the PAC “Leaders We Deserve,” Foxx’s campaign failed to overcome the overwhelming support behind Grijalva, who won with 62% of the vote with only 65% of the ballots counted. Foxx trailed far behind with just 21%.
The result has sparked significant reflection within the far-left activist circles, as the loss highlights the reality check that progressives face when trying to replace established political figures with personalities from social media.
Foxx’s campaign, which leaned heavily on her “lived experience” growing up in Section 8 housing and relying on food stamps, failed to resonate with voters who preferred the long-standing name recognition and deep political roots that Grijalva brought to the table.
The defeat was especially crushing for Foxx, who raised more than $670,000 from mostly small-dollar donors. Her campaign attempted to leverage social media as a tool to reinvent the way field campaigning is done.
However, this approach ultimately proved ineffective in a race where the incumbent’s deep roots in the community and decades of political service carried far more weight.
Grijalva, the daughter of the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva, was the clear favorite from the beginning. Her victory was fueled by endorsements from prominent Democratic figures, including Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego.
These endorsements, along with Grijalva’s name recognition and strong financial backing, provided her with the edge she needed to cruise to a decisive win.
In her victory speech, Grijalva thanked her father and the voters who kept 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.
“We delivered a message rooted not just in fighting back against a dangerous and tyrannical administration—but in fighting for something: for our democracy, for the dignity of working people, and for the values that truly define Southern Arizona.”
Foxx’s loss has also triggered significant discussions within the broader Democratic Party about the role of social media influencers in shaping political discourse.
Foxx, who spent much of her campaign highlighting her personal story and pushing for progressive policies like Medicare for All and tribal sovereignty, attempted to rally voters by positioning herself as a political outsider.
Yet, the results from the primary indicate that voters were not as enamored with her digital celebrity as her supporters hoped. The far-left’s reliance on social media stars may be an overestimation of their influence in the political arena, especially when pitted against seasoned politicians with long-standing relationships in their districts.
For many in the progressive movement, Foxx’s loss represents a wake-up call. The failure to unseat an established Democrat like Grijalva shows the limitations of trying to build a political career based solely on social media popularity.
Foxx’s focus on personal branding and online activism, while important in raising awareness for certain causes, seems to have been insufficient in a real-world election.
Despite this, Foxx’s team is framing the loss as a moral victory. Foxx herself tweeted, “I couldn’t be prouder of what we built together. We started alone in my bedroom and built a movement that shattered expectations.”
While this message may resonate with her supporters, it is clear that the numbers tell a different story. The harsh reality is that Foxx lost by a staggering 40 points, a margin that cannot be easily dismissed.
Her candidacy, though short-lived, has sparked conversations about the future of political campaigns and the potential for social media influencers to have a lasting impact on elections.
However, as this primary defeat demonstrates, the connection between online fame and political success is far from guaranteed. The 2022 midterms may well serve as a lesson to other social media celebrities thinking about venturing into politics: unless you can translate your online following into real-world political power, your celebrity status may not carry much weight at the ballot box.
Looking ahead, the far-left movement within the Democratic Party faces a critical challenge. As it seeks to build momentum for the 2024 elections, the defeat of Foxx raises questions about the long-term viability of replacing traditional politicians with social media stars.
The Democratic Party is already grappling with divisions between its progressive wing and the more establishment-minded moderates. This primary loss serves as a reminder that while progressive ideals may be popular among a vocal minority, they may not always translate into electoral victories.
Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, the Democratic Party is facing challenges from its own left wing. In New York, there are efforts to mount primary challenges against several prominent Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Progressive allies of Zohran Mamdani, a rising democratic socialist star, are reportedly considering taking on Jeffries and other Democratic incumbents in New York City next year.
This effort is being led by the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), which has been gaining traction with young voters and left-wing activists.
Mamdani, a 33-year-old Ugandan-born democratic socialist, has already made waves with his decisive victory over former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo in a mayoral primary earlier this year.
His win signaled a shift in New York City politics, as the DSA’s influence continues to grow. Following his victory, DSA leaders are reportedly eyeing several House races in New York City, including those of Reps. Ritchie Torres, Jerry Nadler, Dan Goldman, and Yvette Clarke.
The prospect of these primary challenges is a direct challenge to the more moderate wing of the Democratic Party, which is already facing pressure from progressives eager to see a more left-wing agenda take center stage.
The Democratic Party’s struggle to find a balance between these two factions could become even more pronounced as the 2024 elections approach. However, as the results in Arizona have shown, progressives may need more than social media fame and high-profile endorsements to win elections.
As we look ahead to the next election cycle, it’s becoming increasingly clear that social media celebrities like Foxx may have to rethink their political strategies. The experience of being soundly defeated by an incumbent with deep political roots has shown that in the world of politics, familiarity often trumps fame.
For those hoping to reshape the political landscape through social media, it may be time to confront the harsh reality that building a movement online does not always translate into real-world success at the polls.
