Voters Want Leaders to Plan Ahead as the State Grows

New statewide, nonpartisan public opinion research from Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) finds Arizona voters want leaders to plan ahead for the water, energy, and infrastructure needed to sustain continued growth, economic opportunity, and quality of life. Many voters question whether the state’s systems will keep pace with future demands. At the same time, strong majorities support long-term action on water, view reliable and affordable energy as essential, support investments to address extreme heat, and say growing industries should share the additional infrastructure costs their growth creates.

The latest findings from the 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda show that voters want the state to plan for the long term, address challenges before they limit opportunity, and make choices today that support the future Arizona wants. Voters want reliable water and energy, communities and infrastructure able to meet the demands of increasingly extreme heat, and growth that does not place its additional infrastructure costs solely on existing ratepayers.

“Arizona voters expect leaders to make the choices today that will allow water, energy, and infrastructure to keep pace with growth and help communities meet the demands of extreme heat,” said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA. “Leaders need to explain how they will act on these priorities, sustain Arizona’s success, and build a strong future for generations to come.”

Water Is Central to Arizona’s Long-Term Growth

Arizona voters recognize that a secure water future is essential to continued economic opportunity, strong communities, and quality of life, and they expect the state to plan for both water and growth over the long term.

Voters are open to solutions and strongly support action to secure Arizona’s water future.

• 93% agree elected leaders must make long-term investments to secure Arizona’s water future, including dedicating more state funding to water. Agreement includes 90% of Republicans, 91% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 97% of Democrats.
• 89% agree Arizona needs to add to its water supply through strategies such as finding other water sources, investing in desalination, and recycling wastewater. Agreement includes 87% of Republicans, 86% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 96% of Democrats.
• 78% support stronger groundwater protections in rural parts of Arizona that currently have fewer groundwater regulations, and 78% prefer limiting new housing development in areas without a guaranteed long-term water supply.

The strong support for action comes in the context of significant concern about Arizona’s water future:

• 71% are not confident Arizona’s water systems can reliably support future growth and extreme heat.
• 69% do not believe Arizona will have enough water over the long term to support residents, agriculture, and future economic growth.
• 64% are not confident Arizona leaders are taking the necessary steps to secure the state’s water future.

These confidence findings provide an important measure of how voters see Arizona’s water future. They show a clear need for leaders to help Arizonans understand the plans, actions, and progress intended to secure water for the long term.

Arizona does not have one water system or one set of conditions. Water is managed through statewide, regional, local, tribal, and sector-specific systems, and the challenges and plans facing one community can differ significantly from those facing another. That complexity can make the complete picture difficult for the public to follow and reinforces the importance of building clarity around how different plans and actions contribute to Arizona’s water future.

“While water remains a complex issue for the public to navigate, survey after survey shows a growing desire among the electorate to do more to protect Arizona’s water future,” said Paul Bentz, Senior Vice President of Research and Strategy at HighGround, which conducted the surveys. “At this point, what the data shows is a confidence gap, not a lack of willingness to act. Voters support multiple approaches to growing Arizona’s water support and understand that the state needs to dedicate more financial resources to do so.”

Reliable Energy Must Keep Pace With Future Demand

The same expectation extends to energy. Nearly all voters (97%) agree with the statement, “Reliable and affordable energy is essential to Arizona’s future quality of life and economic prosperity.” Eighty-four percent strongly agree. Agreement includes 96% of Republicans, 97% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 99% of Democrats, along with majorities in every age group.

Voters are less certain that Arizona will meet that standard. Fifty-three percent are not confident the state’s energy systems can reliably support future growth and extreme heat, and 52% are not confident Arizona is ready to meet future energy demand.

Growth Planning Must Account for Extreme Heat’s Pressure on People and Infrastructure

Extreme heat is already part of daily life for most Arizona voters. Seventy-seven percent say it affects their household’s health, daily activities, or ability to work at least a little, including 28% who say it affects them a great deal.

Nine in ten voters (90%) agree Arizona must make investments to prepare communities and infrastructure for increasingly extreme heat, including 85% of Republicans, 90% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 97% of Democrats.

The findings show that planning for growth must also account for the demands extreme heat places on people, communities, employers, and the systems they rely on.

Most Voters Say Growing Industries Should Share Added Infrastructure Costs

Voters were asked which of two statements comes closer to their view about infrastructure needs:

• 65% agreed with, “Arizona’s growing manufacturing, technology, and other new industries are increasing our infrastructure needs. They should pay their fair share of those costs, rather than putting the burden on existing ratepayers.” That includes 60% of Republicans, 66% of independent and unaffiliated voters, and 72% of Democrats.
• 25% agreed with, “Arizona should encourage new industries to invest and create jobs here, not penalize them with added costs. Infrastructure benefits everyone, so its costs should be shared broadly.”

Long-Term Planning Can Support Arizona’s Success

Voters’ views about the systems supporting growth exist alongside optimism about Arizona’s future – 60% believe Arizona’s best days are ahead. Their priorities show what realizing that potential requires – reliable water and energy, communities and infrastructure equipped for extreme heat, and a long-term approach to the demands created by growth.

Across years of CFA research, Arizonans have consistently valued long-term planning, practical problem-solving, and leaders who address challenges before they become limits on the state's future opportunities. The latest findings bring that expectation into the 2026 election and give candidates and leaders an opportunity to explain how they will act on it.

"Arizona has a strong foundation on which to build," Dr. Francis added. "Candidates and leaders can build public confidence by communicating their long-term vision and the actions they will take to support Arizona's continued success."

Questions for Candidates and Leaders on Arizona’s Growth

The findings raise important questions for candidates and leaders:

• What long-term investments would you prioritize to ensure Arizona’s water, energy, and infrastructure can support continued growth and quality of life?
• How would your plans respond to the different water conditions and needs facing communities across Arizona, and how would you build public confidence in those plans?
• What would you do to prepare Arizona’s communities, infrastructure, and economy for increasingly extreme heat?

As Election Day approaches, CFA will continue sharing findings from 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.