Arizona Republic: Arizona Voters Across Party Lines Still Believe Democracy Is at Risk

It’s been seven months since the 2024 election. The Arizona legislative session just wrapped up. And the next election cycle is already on the horizon.

Meanwhile, court rulings, partisan debates and political spin dominate the headlines. It’s easy to assume Arizonans are locked into two opposing camps. Or worse, that they’ve tuned out altogether.

It’s a good time to pause and ask: What is on the minds of voters? Do they feel heard?

Center for the Future of Arizona regularly asks likely voters about their outlook on issues impacting Arizona and what matters most to them.

We look for issues that garner majority or more support across party affiliation and age group. Where do we have true consensus on issues and opportunities to come together? In our most recent statewide survey conducted by Noble Predictive Analytics, we asked about the state of our democracy, whether elected leaders are focused on what matters most, and how much voters trust the institutions on which we rely.

Here’s what we learned:

Arizonans across party lines still believe democracy is at risk

More than two-thirds (68%) of Arizona voters agree "our democracy is under threat and at risk for future generations." This includes 84% of Democrats, 65% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 60% of Republicans.

The concern is real and remarkably consistent. This is the third time in the past year we’ve asked this question, and the concern across party lines has remained.

Most respondents didn’t express strong agreement or disagreement. Many are in the middle, somewhat agree or somewhat disagree. That could signal hesitation. Or fatigue. Or a sense that no one’s listening.

Whatever the cause, it’s worth paying attention to.

Many voters don't feel their leaders are focused on what matters

Only 45% of likely voters agree "state elected leaders are focused on the issues that matter most to me." A slightly larger share (47%) disagrees.

Democrats are the most likely to agree (54%). Republicans are more skeptical (45%). And independent and unaffiliated voters express the most concern: just 39% agree, while 53% disagree. These voters make up a growing share of Arizona’s electorate, and they’re also the most likely to feel left out of the conversation.

Arizonans still have trust

No institutions earn a majority saying that they have "a great deal" of trust. But when you include voters who say they have at least “some" trust, many have majority support.

Majorities of voters across party lines express some trust in law enforcement (69%), public schools (62%) and the courts (59%), followed by local government (54%) and the governor (56%), though views diverge across party lines here. Trust in the state legislature and local media trails behind, both below 50%.

These numbers suggest there’s still a foundation to build on. People haven’t given up. They want to believe leadership can work.

That presents an opportunity for leaders to show up, listen, and respond. Arizonans still care. They’re still paying attention.

We see the opportunity and we know what works

For nearly two decades, CFA has asked Arizonans what they want for the future of our state. And we’ve heard consistent themes: a desire for leaders who work together, a belief in civic engagement, and a commitment to a democracy that works for all of us.

When we launched the Arizona Voters’ Agenda, identifying issues that majorities of Arizona voters across all ages agree on across party lines in election years, we found large gaps between what voters care about and what dominates political debate. These latest data show that the gap is still there, but it doesn’t have to be.

As we move forward, we face a choice.

We can let the disconnect grow. Or we can meet it with urgency, accountability and honest engagement.

We’ll keep doing our part at Center for the Future of Arizona: asking questions, listening carefully, and making sure voters’ voices are heard clearly and without spin.

Our democracy is about more than casting votes or holding elections. It’s about how we deliver on the promise to Arizonans that their voices will be heard and acted upon.

Let’s make that promise real.

Sybil Francis, Ph.D., is chair, president & CEO of Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state.