Raul Grijalva

I’m thinking of starting a rumor that Bill Richardson stepped aside to make room for Raúl Grijalva in the cabinet. Who’s with me?

I recieved a missive from a highly placed Arizona Democrat:

This fact seems relevant - Paul [Cunningham] is right. [Bruce] Babbitt was born while his Dad was on an extended trip to LA, and spent his first year there but was raised in Flag.

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Filed under Bruce Babbitt, Raul Grijalva

Raul Grijalva's new committee assignment lands him on this week's Winners & Losers.

Does Hose Speaker Nancy Pelosi know something we don't? The Speaker named Arizona Democrat Raul Grijalva to the much coveted House Ways & Means Committee. Grijalva is rumored to be the front-runner for the Interior position under Barack Obama, but if he does not get the post, his new committee assignment should keep him happy.

Congressman Raul Grijalva has been rumored for weeks as the leading candidate to fill the Interior position under Barack Obama. A new name with Arizona ties has emerged as a possible candidate. Kevin Gover who is the director of the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is is getting talked about on many blogs as a potential pick. Gover is a former ASU professor and was the assistant secretary of Indian Affairs in the Clinton administration.

Most still consider Grijalva as the front-runner and is getting a lot of outside support as more than 100 environmental groups have urged Obama to make him the choice.

A good week for Andrew Thomas lead to a bad week for Don Stapley.  This week's full list of Winners & Losers.

Richard Elias

Richard Elias, chairman of the Pima County Board of Supervisors, indicated to PolitickerAZ.com Wednesday that he might be interested at taking a run for the 7th Congressional District seat if U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) vacates it to become secretary of the Department of the Interior in the Obama administration.

"If that happens, and I certainly wish Congressman Grijalva all the best with it, me and my family would have to take a long, hard look" at a run for his seat, Elias said.

Grijalva is regarded as one of the top contenders for the Interior post, and if he were nominated and confirmed, his departure would trigger a special election to fill his 7th district seat.

A number of Arizonans and national leaders are urging President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team to name U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Tucson) as secretary of the Department of Interior.

Natalie Luna, Grijalva's communications director, told PolitickerAZ.com that a number of environmental groups and other activists within the district have been contacting the transition team to push for Grijalva's nomination.

Also, former 1st Congressional District Democratic primary candidate Howard Shanker, an attorney who has worked extensively on environmental litigation, put out an editorial Monday in which he called Grijalva, "a visionary when it comes to responsible stewardship and multiple use of public lands."

Congressman Raul Grijalva's biggest hurdle to becoming the next Interior Secretary may have been New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Richardson was an early supporter of Barack Obama and was on the short list of Interior candidates. Word today is Richardson will get the Commerce job which removes one obstacle for Grijalva.