/Photo: Ed Spyra/Morrison Institute
By Maria Polletta, /Arizona Republic
Heading into 2020, more Arizonans are worried about the future of the state’s water, children and finances than are focused on hot-button issues like immigration or gun control, according to new polling from the Morrison Institute for Public Policy.
But less than half of residents are confident elected officials can manage Arizona’s needs well, the statewide survey found — and only 16% believe the state Legislature has the right priorities.
Nearly 1,000 Arizonans completed the survey online this summer, with the sample balanced to reflect the state’s demographics. The sample included people registered and not registered to vote.
The results suggest candidates up for election next year may want to focus on the issues that touch Arizonans’ lives on a daily basis and lay out concrete plans for how they will address or improve them.
About three-quarters of Arizonans agreed the state should prioritize water and air quality, health care, education, public safety and the economy. About 70% also deemed affordable housing important.
Political affiliation frequently informed how a participant believed the state should approach a particular policy area — and how much the state should invest in it. But about eight of 10 participants were able to agree on a few specific proposals, such as favoring background checks for gun ownership and expanding vocational training opportunities in Arizona.
