August 2026

Over the past month, we’ve shared findings from the Arizona Voters’ Agenda, revealing where voters agree on the priorities they want leaders to address.

The latest findings reinforce what we’ve seen across multiple election cycles: Arizona voters continue to find common ground on many of the priorities that matter most to our state’s future.

As election season continues, use the research to ask candidates where they stand, ground conversations with leaders and your community in what voters care about, and keep attention focused on the outcomes Arizonans want for our state.

The priorities are clear. The question now is how Arizona's leaders respond.

Earlier this month, CFA convened more than 150 local leaders at our League of Arizona Cities and Towns Pre-Conference Session around a shared message: Arizona’s leaders and communities are ready to work together to tackle tough challenges and make progress on the issues Arizonans care about most.

Leaders explored:

• New insights from CFA’s 2026 Arizona Voters’ Agenda, revealing where voters across political affiliations and generations agree on the priorities they want leaders to address.
• A deeper look at CFA and ASU's Mechanics of Democracy Laboratory's Good Elections Project, including a conversation with Bill Gates and Maricopa and Pinal County election officials about strengthening trust and confidence in Arizona’s elections.
• Perspectives from the Mayors of Globe, Maricopa, and Sahuarita on how they are navigating some of the state’s biggest challenges, building trust in their communities, and turning shared priorities into progress.

The session put these insights into action, with leaders working together to consider what the findings mean for their communities, share what’s working locally, and identify opportunities to advance shared priorities across Arizona.

We’re grateful to the leaders who joined us and are carrying this work forward in communities across the state.

For many Arizonans, a good job means more than a paycheck. It means being able to put down roots, support a family, and build a future in the community you call home.

That’s at the heart of Local First Arizona’s work: strengthening local businesses and expanding economic opportunity so more Arizonans and communities can thrive across our state — a commitment CFA is proud to share.

One powerful example of that commitment in action is the Northern Arizona Good Jobs Network, a multi-year initiative led by Local First to strengthen the workforce and local economies across Apache, Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, and Yavapai counties. In 2023, Local First entrusted CFA with a nearly $300,000 investment, putting resources directly behind a shared belief that Arizonans shouldn’t have to choose between opportunity and the places they love.

With Local First Arizona’s support, CFA engaged more than 50 Northern Arizona employers, helping them identify practical ways to strengthen wages and benefits, create pathways for career advancement, foster workplace culture, and improve other elements that help people build rewarding, sustainable careers.

	NAGJN participants worked with employers and community colleges across healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and construction industries to build their skills for in-demand careers.

That matters in communities across Northern Arizona. Good jobs help businesses keep talented people and helps communities retain the people who make them strong.

We’re grateful to Local First Arizona for investing in an Arizona where people can build a good life in the communities they love — and for helping bring The Arizona We Want closer to reality across our state.

Preparing for life after high school can be challenging when career planning systems don’t fully reflect what students need to explore their options, make informed choices, and take their next steps.

In Yuma, CFA, Arizona Western College, and Yuma Union High School District set out to change that by bringing students directly into the process. Students from Cibola, Gila Ridge, and Kofa High Schools shared their experiences and what they need to feel prepared for life after graduation, helping partners rethink how career planning can better support every student.

Explore what we learned and discover innovative approaches you can bring to your community.