It’s clear: Voters want leadership, not partisanship

Updated 11:00am
Published December 10th, 2020

Post-election research shows that one thing is clear: a majority of Arizona voters are concerned about their health and financial security, and they expect the state’s legislators to move on policies addressing these issues in the new session in 2021. Coronavirus looms large over the concerns of Arizonans. And as coronavirus cases rise, nearly half of Arizonans also worry about losing their job or a significant part of their income (47 percent).

Key findings from the non-partisan research conducted in late November find that:

1. Overall, Arizona voters are concerned about the spread of the coronavirus in Arizona, including the possibility of losing their job or a significant part of their income.
   Across the state, voters are very concerned about contracting the coronavirus with three in five worried (60%) and 29% very worried. Nearly half of Arizonans are worried about losing their job or income (47%) and 44% are worried about not having health insurance – including 45% of voters outside Pima and Maricopa counties. An additional two in five (41%) Arizonans are worried about being unable to pay their rent or mortgage.
   
   
2. Voters expect their elected leaders to help working Arizonans, to share their views on most issues, and work for change.
   
   
3. A majority of voters support policies that would help Arizonans across the state during the pandemic.
   
   Indeed, legislation guaranteeing health insurance coverage for Arizonans with pre-existing conditions, making prescription drugs more affordable and increasing transparency in pricing, ensuring national corporations operating in the state pay state taxes, and protecting patients from having to pay the costs from surprise billing are viewed as a high priority for the state legislators by a majority of Arizona voters.
   
   Additionally, 62% of voter believe increasing unemployment benefits should be a priority for the legislature. Here’s a more detailed look at what Arizonans want their legislators working on:
   

In conclusion, commonsense legislative policies are popular in Arizona, particularly ones that respond to the urgent needs the coronavirus has highlighted. Legislators will garner strong support from their constituents, including harder-to-convince cohorts which are not typically viewed as being supportive of these policies, by addressing these needs. These research results show strong support for the state legislature returning to session next year to pass these reasonable legislative items instead of playing partisan and ideological games.