Arizona Voters Want Elected Leaders to Act on Affordable and Accessible Healthcare

New statewide, nonpartisan public opinion research from Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) reveals Arizona voters across political affiliations and age groups share a clear set of priorities for affordable and accessible healthcare, including increasing the number of healthcare workers, expanding access in rural and underserved communities, and improving access to mental and behavioral healthcare.

The latest findings from the 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda also provide insight into the barriers some Arizonans face when seeking care, including cost and difficulty scheduling appointments. The findings offer candidates and elected leaders clear direction from voters on policy areas where they have authority and responsibility to act.

"The health of Arizonans impacts their ability to work, learn, care for their families, and participate fully in their communities," said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA. “Voters expect elected leaders to act on the barriers that stand between people and the care they need. When affordable and accessible healthcare reaches every part of our state, families are stronger, communities are more resilient, and Arizona is better prepared for its future.”

Voters Agree on Priorities for Affordable and Accessible Healthcare

Each of the following actions meets CFA’s high standard for inclusion as a shared priority in the Arizona Voters’ Agenda, demonstrating strong agreement across political affiliations and age groups:

• 90% support improving access to affordable healthcare. Seventy-two percent strongly support it. Total support includes 82% of Republicans, 92% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 98% of Democrats.
• 93% support improving access to mental and behavioral healthcare. Seventy-five percent strongly support it. Total support includes 87% of Republicans, 95% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 99% of Democrats.
• 89% support increasing the number of healthcare workers. Sixty-seven percent strongly support it. Total support includes 85% of Republicans, 86% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 96% of Democrats.
• 88% support expanding access to healthcare in rural and underserved communities. Sixty-eight percent strongly support it. Total support includes 78% of Republicans, 90% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 99% of Democrats.

Cost and Appointment Access Remain Barriers for Some Arizonans

Voters were asked whether, during the past 12 months, they had delayed getting healthcare because of cost, difficulty getting an appointment, transportation, or another reason. Respondents could select all that applied. Cost and difficulty getting an appointment were the two most frequently selected reasons:

• 34% selected cost.
• 26% selected difficulty getting an appointment.
• 11% selected another reason.
• 8% selected transportation.

When asked about their ability to afford healthcare for themselves and their families over the next year, 70% of voters say they are confident, while 28% are not confident. Confidence differs by age. Fifty-three percent of voters ages 20–29 are confident, compared with 79% of voters ages 65 and older. Greater access to Medicare among older adults may be one factor.

Majority of Voters Prefer Continuing Existing Childhood Vaccination Guidance

Childhood vaccination policy has received renewed public and political attention in recent years, as longstanding requirements are debated and measles and other diseases have reemerged in communities across the country, including Arizona. Against that backdrop, the survey asked voters to choose between two approaches:

• 59% agree that Arizona should continue to follow guidance from pediatric and public health experts on childhood vaccines, including maintaining existing vaccination requirements to protect children and communities. That view is supported by 34% of Republicans, 65% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 86% of Democrats.
• 36% say parents should have greater freedom to decide which vaccines their children receive and that Arizona should reduce childhood vaccination requirements. That view is supported by 60% of Republicans, 29% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 11% of Democrats.

Although a statewide majority prefers continuing existing vaccination guidance, the finding does not receive majority support among Republicans. The divide suggests childhood vaccination policy has become a polarized political debate, making transparency especially important. Arizonans have said they want candidates and leaders to answer questions directly and explain their plans. On childhood vaccination policy, that means clearly explaining the evidence and public health implications guiding their decisions and how their approach would protect children and communities.

Healthcare Priorities Are Part of Voters’ Broad Agenda for Arizona

Across years of research, Arizonans have consistently placed health and well-being among the public values essential to the state’s future. The 2026 findings bring that longstanding priority into the current election and clarify where voters expect elected leaders to act.

Voters’ healthcare priorities fit within a larger agenda for Arizona’s future. Affordable and accessible healthcare includes mental and behavioral healthcare and depends on whether Arizona has enough professionals and whether care is available where people live. The full 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda also shows support for education and career pathways that develop Arizona’s talent and highlights conditions—including affordability, housing, and childcare—that help people pursue opportunities and build their lives here. Those priorities also shape Arizona’s ability to develop and retain the healthcare workforce it needs.

“Arizonans have been clear for years that health and well-being are essential to the future they want,” Dr. Francis added. “Their priorities show that affordability, access, and workforce capacity must be addressed together. Candidates should explain how they will act, how they will work across sectors and communities, and how they will measure whether more Arizonans can obtain the care they need. That is how we build a healthier future and The Arizona We Want.”

Questions for Candidates and Leaders on Healthcare

The findings raise important questions for candidates and leaders:

• What actions would you take to advance affordable and accessible healthcare for Arizonans?
• How would you increase the number of healthcare workers needed to serve Arizona’s growing population and communities?
• What actions would you take to expand access to healthcare in rural and underserved communities?
• How would you improve access to mental and behavioral healthcare?
• How would you approach Arizona’s childhood vaccination requirements, and what evidence would guide your decisions?

As Election Day approaches, CFA will continue sharing the full 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda and questions for candidates and leaders. The goal is to keep voters’ priorities visible throughout the election and into governing, providing a foundation for assessing whether those priorities translate into action and results.

Explore the research and join the conversation. Find the 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda findings, methodology, and resources at ArizonaFuture.org/AVA.