Arizonans Deserve Better Solutions

In choosing among five issues, the economy was a top concern for 1 in 3 Arizonan voters this election, with a larger 2 in 3 voters feeling the economy is not so good or poor. While both the U.S. and Arizona are experiencing economic growth, many Arizona voters are not feeling its benefits. Exit polls also showed over half of Arizonan voters feel their family’s financial situation is worse today than four years ago, compared with 15 percent in the 2020 election.   

As such, Arizonan voters ensured the failure of proposition measures directly affecting family budgets.  

While votes are still being counted, a resounding 75 percent NO vote to Prop 138 sends a clear message across party lines: Arizona voters strongly reject threats to the economic well-being of workers. Voters understand that all Arizonans are feeling price pressures, but cutting wages for tipped workers and their families is not the solution. Over 61 percent of Arizonans in every county voted to protect the seventeen-year progress for tipped workers. 

Furthermore, Arizona voters made it clear that they reserve the right to address their economic well-being by engaging in direct democracy and rejecting Prop 134. This is a huge win as it allows Arizonans to continue to come together to demand and advance just and equitable policies such as minimum wages that keep up with inflation under Props 202 and 206 as well as securing investments for early childhood programs under Prop 203. 

Meanwhile, two ballot proposals that were referred by the legislature and opposed by the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, including  Props 312 and 314, appear on their way to passage by voters. 

While the AZCenter opposes both measures, Prop 314 support was expected as immigration was a top concern for 1 in 6 Arizona voters.    

Based on analysis, the AZCenter finds that both Props 312 and 314 measures would work to further dismantle state and local budgets for investment in real policy solutions and further criminalize and separate Arizonans from their families and communities. When asked whether undocumented immigrants should be offered a chance to apply for legal status, 55 percent of Arizonan voters agreed. A lesser 41 percent of voters said undocumented immigrants should be deported to their country of origin.  

Immigration policy solutions that address asylum backlogs and provide pathways to legal status would equitably grow the economy and help address our housing affordability crisis. Recent research shows immigrants play a vital role in expanding the supply of homes by accounting for a large share of construction workers. 

Arizonans need real policy solutions that ensure all people are treated with dignity and respect.