Deja Foxx Pursues a Congressional Bid in Arizona Advocating for Youth and Intending to Transform the Democratic Party
In the heart of Arizona, a new wave of political change is brewing. Deja Foxx, a 25-year-old Gen Z activist and social media influencer, is running for Congress in the 7th congressional district. If successful, she would become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
Foxx's political journey began at a young age, challenging then-Arizona Senator Jeff Flake over Planned Parenthood funding at a town hall. Since then, her activism and political career have centred primarily around reproductive rights.
Foxx's political goals focus strongly on reproductive justice, as evidenced by her work on the Prop 139 Ballot Initiative in 2024, which aimed to enshrine the right to abortion in Arizona's constitution. She served on the board of Planned Parenthood Arizona at age 17 and worked as a sex educator in health clinics during high school.
Beyond reproductive rights, Foxx also advocates for engaging and mobilizing young voters through new media platforms. With nearly 30 million views across TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram in a month, along with thousands of followers on Substack, Foxx has built a prominent profile through social media.
Foxx's campaign has attracted major endorsements, including from U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, progressive leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and from David Hogg’s PAC, Leaders We Deserve, which supports young progressive candidates challenging entrenched incumbents.
Foxx has also mobilised a large grassroots donor base, allowing her to fund television advertisements, a notable achievement for a newcomer without establishment backing. In a July 2025 primary poll commissioned by her campaign, Foxx was polling second with 35 percent, making her a strong contender in a competitive race against established local political figures, including the late Rep. Raúl Grijalva’s daughter, Adelita Grijalva.
Foxx's candidacy exemplifies the increasing political viability of influencers and content creators transitioning into elected office. She leverages her digital strategy, rooted in her experience as a digital advocate, to run an innovative campaign aimed at shaking up traditional politics.
The "youth activism industrial complex," as defined by Delaney Tarr, co-founder of March for Our Lives, puts the focus on the individual versus the system, and the youth versus those who should bear responsibility for the crises we're facing. Foxx, however, feels validated by the disappointment and heartbreak her peers felt after the election, understanding that she can't ask youth to continue taking risks to protest when politicians won't listen to them.
Foxx aims to rebrand the Democratic Party into one that works for its people, calling out the rise of authoritarianism under Trump and elected Democrats who she says need to "have a spine." If elected, she intends to set the tone for the next generation of women in politics.
In summary, Deja Foxx is a 25-year-old Gen Z activist running for Congress in Arizona's 7th congressional district. Her primary focus is on political goals, particularly reproductive access. Foxx's digital skills are utilised for political purposes, similar to other Gen Z politicians like Representative Maxwell Frost and New York City Council member Chi Ossé. Foxx's campaign strategy is rooted in her experience as a digital advocate, utilising Instagram, TikTok, Substack, and digital ads. She has attracted major endorsements and has mobilised a large grassroots donor base. If successful, Foxx would become the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
- Deja Foxx, the Gen Z activist, uses her significant social media presence to mobilize young voters and advocate for matters such as reproductive rights, policy-and-legislation, and politics, particularly in the context of war-and-conflicts and general-news.
- Foxx's innovative campaign strategy, rooted in her digital advocacy experience, has earned her major endorsements and a large grassroots donor base, demonstrating the potential of social-media influencers transitioning into elected office.
- If successful in her bid for Congress, Foxx aims to set a precedent for women in politics, pushing for policy changes that prioritize the needs of the people, addressing issues like reproductive justice and challenging authoritarianism in politics.
