Majority of Arizona Voters Agree On Key Issues Ahead of Elections

Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) today announces the release of the 2024 Arizona Voters' Agenda, developed from a new statewide survey of likely Republican, Democratic, and independent/unaffiliated voters of all ages. This vital initiative identifies the issues voters agree on across political and generational lines to inform election discourse. CFA will release the Arizona Voters’ Agenda over the next two weeks, sharing insights and important questions for candidates prompted by the findings.

“The Arizona Voters’ Agenda puts the voices of Arizona voters at the center of our election discussions and challenges the narrative of a hopelessly divided electorate. The survey insights present an opportunity for leaders, reporters, debate moderators, and candidates to focus on substantive dialogue that addresses the issues that the vast majority of voters care about," said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA.

CFA collaborated with HighGround, Inc., a nonpartisan public opinion polling firm based in Arizona, to conduct the Arizona Voters’ Agenda survey of likely general election voters. The survey asked voters questions about their current outlook and their views on policy issues and values for education, economic issues, immigration, and housing.

The results of the questions asking voters about their outlook show many areas where the majority agree on shared concerns and what they want from their leaders:

• Arizona not prepared for future growth – Over half of Arizona voters (52%) are not confident that Arizona is prepared for future growth.
• Top issues facing the state – When asked about Arizona's most pressing issues, “immigration & border security” dominates among all voters. “Long-term water supplies” and “education” round out the top three issues, with “inflation & cost of living” and “housing costs” close behind them.
• Candidates not focused on what's most important to voters – Fewer than half (40%) of voters say that current candidates for statewide and legislative offices in Arizona are talking about what’s important to them.
• Preference for working across the aisle: More than two times as many voters prefer candidates who are willing to compromise and work across the aisle to get things done compared to those who prefer candidates with unwavering commitments to principles and refuse to compromise (62% to 29%).
• Media coverage of candidates contributes to political division: Eighty-five percent of voters, including supermajorities across all political affiliations and age groups, believe that news media coverage of political parties and candidates has created more division.

Additionally, the survey findings about policy and public values show many areas of common ground in education, economic issues, immigration, and housing, which will make up the new Arizona Voters’ Agenda. The forthcoming 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda will present specific policy items and values statements with which most voters–across political affiliations and age groups– agree.

CFA will release the Arizona Voters’ Agenda and questions for candidates on these issues, providing resources for moderators, members of the press, community leaders, and voters to foster productive dialogue and seek real answers. The detailed information and resources will be released on the following schedule at arizonafuture.org/ava:

• May 8: Education
• May 10: State Spending
• May 13: Immigration
• May 15: Housing

About the Arizona Voters’ Agenda Survey The first of two planned Arizona Voters’ Agenda surveys ahead of the 2024 election was conducted on March 4-11, 2024, with a random sample of 500 people. The poll surveyed likely Arizona 2024 General Election voters with a history of electoral participation and was balanced to model the likely turnout of voters across party, age, region, and gender. The live interview surveys of voters were conducted in English and Spanish by HighGround, Inc. to landline and cell phone users. The partisan advantage was set at +4% GOP based on previous election trends. The margin of error is ±4.3%.

Survey Demographics:

The 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda initiative is supported in part by Helios Education Foundation, Pivotal Foundation, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, and Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation.

About Center for the Future of Arizona
Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan "do-tank" that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state. Through its survey research & communications, Arizona Progress Meters, and impact initiatives & programs in education, workforce, and civic health, CFA listens to Arizonans to learn what matters most to them, shares trusted data about how Arizona is doing in those priority areas, brings critical issues to public attention, and works with communities and leaders to solve public problems. CFA’s work is focused on building The Arizona We Want –a research-informed vision of success for the state, where all Arizonans, now and in the future, thrive and enjoy sustained prosperity, unmatched quality of life, and real opportunity.

CFA develops the Arizona Voters’ Agenda initiative to put the voices of Arizona voters at the forefront of election dialogue, encourage candidates and media to focus on what Arizonans agree on and care about for our state, and increase voter engagement by building a positive agenda that focuses on outcomes that voters across age and political affiliation want. Visit arizonafuture.org/ava for more details on the initiative and comprehensive survey information.