High-profile races for Senate and the presidency were not the only issues driving Arizona voters to open their wallets to political campaigns this year. Ballot propositions on school funding and marijuana legalization drew lots of interest, as this election-night scene outside Phoenix’s Burton Barr Library shows. /File photo by Hope O’Brien/Cronkite News
By Catherine Fusill | Cronkite News
Arizonans were heavily invested in this fall’s elections in more ways than one, donating a total of at least $110 million to support candidates and high-profile ballot initiatives.
That was a sharp increase from the $60 million that state voters donated just four years ago. And the increases this year were seen across the board, with Arizonans opening their wallets for presidential as well as federal and state campaigns.
“People on both sides obviously felt extremely passionate about the presidential and Senate elections,” said Jason Rose, a Republican political consultant in Arizona. “They saw an opportunity to effect change this way.”
The surge in giving was driven by unusually high interest in the presidential and Senate races and Arizona’s newfound status as a battleground state. While that drew large amounts of money from out of state, it apparently inspired state residents to contribute more, too.
Democrats appeared to be especially motivated, donating to what turned out to be successful campaigns for president and for Senate.
