Opinion: Proposition 140 ends the system that pushes Arizona politics to extremes
I have the data to prove that Arizonans are practical, independent-minded people who agree more than we disagree on big, important issues.
Arizona is often portrayed by the national press as an extremist state where partisanship and political division reign.
Who doesn’t have that friend or relative from out of state who snickers at our politics or rolls their eyes at our political antics?
This is not the Arizona I have known for 22 years.
As the leader of an organization dedicated to deeply understanding our shared public values and priorities, I have the data to prove that Arizonans are practical, independent-minded people who agree more than we disagree on big important issues.
Yet, our politics don’t always reflect that, making it hard to push back on the name-calling by our friends and colleagues across the country. Why is that?
A closed primary election fuels division
One major culprit is the design of our current partisan primary system, which fuels divisions and rewards extremism.
That’s why Center for the Future of Arizona (CFA) supports Proposition 140, the Make Elections Fair initiative, which would establish open primaries for all Arizona voters and candidates running for office.
By opening the primary system, Proposition 140 will ensure that the interests of the few do not overshadow the voices of the many.
Our current primary system is in the grips of the most ideologically driven voters, partly because voters who are tired of partisanship have become independent or non-affiliated voters.
Yet, voters in the general election are stuck with a primary system that feeds candidates into the general election who are beholden to their base voters.
Many voters are left with 'lesser of 2 evils'
These candidates can pivot all they want when they get to the general election, but they will always be listening most closely to those base voters who will get them through their next primary election.
This leaves many voters feeling like they’re choosing between “the lesser of two evils” in the general election, or maybe they don’t vote at all because they don’t see candidates who stand for them.
The 2024 Arizona Voters’ Agenda, developed by CFA, provides a comprehensive view of what Arizonans really want from our politicians, and it’s not ideological division and partisan politics. Across a range of critical issues, the data show that strong majorities of voters agree on key priorities.
They want to see stronger protections for our natural resources, improvements in education that lead to increased post-secondary attainment, and bipartisan solutions on immigration.
These findings show that Arizonans are not interested in ideological warfare but are focused on achieving real outcomes that benefit everyone.
Arizona needs leaders who reflect their priorities
The disconnect between what voters want and what they see happening isn’t just frustrating — it has real consequences for Arizona’s future.
If we tackle the big questions facing our state — such as how to secure long-term water supplies, improve educational outcomes and ensure sustainable growth — we need leaders who reflect the electorate’s shared priorities.
This means changing our primary system to allow more and more representative voices to be heard in our elections.
Addressing this issue isn’t about suppressing partisan voices. It’s about making space for the majority of voters who feel sidelined by a system that doesn’t reflect what’s important to them.
Opening up the primary system, as Proposition 140 would do, is one important step in creating a healthier political environment that leads to outcomes that better serve the interests of our communities.
Proposition 140 is the reform Arizona needs
The story of Arizona is not one of partisanship and division.
Our state is filled with voters who are pragmatic, forward-looking, and who want real solutions to real problems that matter to them, not hot-button issues that monopolize political dialogue and divide us.
Modernizing our primary system to make it more responsive to the majority of Arizonans is a critical first step. That’s why CFA supports voting yes on Proposition 140.
It’s time for our elections to reflect the true voice of Arizona’s voters rather than a distorted version shaped by partisan extremes.
And don’t be fooled into voting for Proposition 133, which would do just the opposite by putting a constitutional ban on open primaries in place.
Arizona can — and should — be a leader in showing the nation what happens when we prioritize what matters to people over destructive and divisive narratives. We are Arizonans who love this state and want to see it continue to be an incredible place to live, work, and thrive.
Let’s ensure that the Arizona of tomorrow is built on what unites us as Arizonans, not the partisan divisions that pull us apart. It’s time we take back the narrative and show the world who we really are.
Sybil Francis, Ph.D., is chair, president & CEO of Center for the Future of Arizona, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that brings Arizonans together to create a stronger and brighter future for our state.