Arizona Voters Want Answers on Their Priorities as Voting Begins

Research-based Questions for Candidates & Leaders help voters focus on candidates' plans for the issues that matter most to Arizona's future

PHOENIX, Oct. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- As early voting begins and early ballots are mailed for Arizona's General Election, Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) is offering voters a data-driven, nonpartisan set of questions to consider whether candidates have addressed their priorities with clear plans and solutions.

The 2026 Arizona Voters' Agenda is CFA's election-year public opinion research initiative focused on what likely Arizona voters want leaders to address. The research examines a wide range of issues, identifies priorities with strong agreement across political affiliations and age groups, and provides additional insight into voters' concerns, experiences, and perspectives.

The resulting Questions for Candidates & Leaders have helped highlight these issues for voters in the media, candidate forums, and public conversations. As Arizonans begin casting their ballots, the questions provide a resource for evaluating candidates in relation to the issues that matter to them.

"Arizonans are optimistic and believe our best days are ahead but they don't believe leaders are doing enough or responsive enough to their concerns," said Dr. Sybil Francis, Chair, President & CEO of CFA. "Voters want candidates to get away from the political noise and speak to the issues that matter most to them and how they will deliver results."

Ninety-three percent of likely voters say it is important to have opportunities to hear candidates directly answer questions about issues that matter to most Arizona voters, including 80% who say it is very important. That expectation extends across political affiliations and age groups.

Voters are also looking for leadership focused on solving problems. Across CFA's extensive research, Arizonans have consistently valued long-term planning, pragmatic solutions, and action that produces results.

The new research shows 63% prefer to elect leaders who develop practical solutions to Arizona's biggest challenges, even when they do not agree with them on every political issue.

Voters Want Plans for Arizona's Future

The full 2026 Arizona Voters' Agenda reveals a connected set of shared priorities and expectations for Arizona's future.

Voters want action to improve public education, develop Arizona's talent to meet workforce needs, make it possible for people to afford their lives here, and ensure access to healthcare. They want long-term planning for water, energy, infrastructure, and extreme heat as Arizona grows. They also want a secure and functioning border, fair treatment of immigrants, and to keep elections fair, secure, accessible, and worthy of public confidence.

The questions for candidates & leaders bring those expectations into the election by focusing attention on what candidates would do, why they believe their approach would work, and how they would measure results.

Among the research-based questions voters can consider are:

• What would you do to make Arizona more affordable for people who live and work here?
• What long-term investments would you prioritize to ensure Arizona's water, energy, and infrastructure can support continued growth and quality of life?
• Most voters say elected leaders are not doing enough to improve public education. What would you do differently to improve student outcomes, expand pathways into good careers, and measure progress?
• What actions would you take to advance affordable and accessible healthcare for Arizonans and strengthen the healthcare workforce needed across the state?
• Arizona voters support both border security and a functioning border for commerce, trade, and legal immigration. What would you do to advance those priorities?
• Do you support continuing Arizona's vote-by-mail system? What evidence supports your position, and how would any election changes you favor improve security, confidence, or participation?

The complete resource includes additional questions on leadership, elections, education, economic opportunity and workforce, affordability and housing, healthcare, water, growth and infrastructure, and immigration.

Put Voters' Shared Priorities to Work Before Casting a Ballot

Political campaigning does not always reflect the issues voters care about most. Throughout the election, the Arizona Voters' Agenda and its resulting questions have provided candidates, journalists, moderators, and civic organizations with a shared framework for focusing public conversations on voters' priorities, candidates' plans, and the results they would seek.

As voting begins, the questions offer Arizonans a way to bring that same focus to their own decisions. Have candidates addressed the priorities affecting people and communities? Have they explained what they would do and why they believe it would work? Have they said how they would measure results?

Answers may come through candidates' policy proposals and communications, news interviews, community forums, and debates. The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, established through the voter-approved Citizens Clean Elections Act, is Arizona's official debate sponsor and provides one important nonpartisan resource for hearing directly from candidates.

Keep the Questions Working After Election Day

Voting determines who will represent Arizonans, but meaningful participation does not end with an election.   The same priorities and questions can help people assess whether those elected take action, produce results, and move Arizona toward the future voters want.

"Democracy does not end when the ballots are counted," Dr. Francis added. "Voting gives each of us a voice in choosing our leaders, and staying engaged helps ensure that Arizonans' priorities inform what comes next. Ask candidates now what they will do. Keep asking those elected what actions they have taken and what results Arizona is achieving. A stronger future is built when people participate, leaders respond, and we measure whether action is producing results."

Explore the research. Ask questions. Vote. Make your voice heard. Find the complete 2026 Arizona Voters' Agenda, Questions for Candidates & Leaders, methodology, and more at ArizonaFuture.org/AVA.

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. 

About the Arizona Voters' Agenda Surveys

The 2026 Arizona Voters' Agenda draws from two statewide surveys conducted June 15–18 and Aug. 24–28, 2026. Each surveyed 500 likely Arizona General Election voters and was balanced to reflect expected turnout across party, age, region, and gender. Live interviews were conducted in English and Spanish by HighGround, Inc., among landline and mobile phone users. The partisan advantage was set at +8% Republican based on previous election trends. Each survey has a margin of error of ±4.3%.

To be included in the Arizona Voters' Agenda, each priority must receive support from at least 50% of all likely voters, as well as at least 50% of Republicans, Democrats, independent and unaffiliated voters, and every age group. The surveys also include broader questions that provide context about Arizona voters' experiences, concerns, and perspectives.

The 2026 Arizona Voters' Agenda initiative is supported in part by Arizona State University, Helios Education Foundation, Pivotal Foundation, and Thomas R. Brown Family Private Foundation. Center for the Future of Arizona is grateful for their investment in trusted, nonpartisan research that helps inform leadership and public dialogue around Arizona's future.

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SOURCE Center for the Future of Arizona