House Speaker Mike Johnson conducted a ceremonial swearing in with Democratic Rep. Adelita Grijalva where the pair posed for a photo in a more intimate setting after she was officially sworn in on the House floor.
Johnson complimented Grijalva by reflecting on her late father, whose seat she is filling, and characterized their fierce disagreement about the delay of her swearing in as “some intense fellowship.”
“I really like this lady. She is going to be an excellent member of Congress. She is a great person. I just told her on the way in that she fills her father’s shoes, or she is going to try, no one can. He was giant around here, served a long time, served his state very well. I served under him on the Natural Resources Committee for a while, admired the way he did the work, he was tenacious. So, she has a proud family legacy, and we’re delighted to have her here,” Johnson said.
“She may not agree with me, but we followed the custom of the House on the timetable. And we’ve had, as we say in the deep south, some intense fellowship about that, OK? But she’s here now. And I promised that we would have the oath administered before we began legislative business so she hasn’t missed a vote and we’re delighted you’re here. So, anything I can do to help you, as I do to all of the members, happy to get you acclimated and do everything. But you know more than most because your dad was here for a long time.” Johnson added.
Grijalva thanked the speaker and said, “I visited, I never did this job, so this is brand spanking new. So, I will take the offer of help.”
When asked why it took so long for her to be sworn in, Grijalva said, motioning towards Johnson, “that would not be my question.”