This sentiment could be influential in a state where fewer than 11,000 votes secured President Joe Biden’s victory in 2020, making him the first Democrat to win Arizona since 1996. High-density Latino precincts were crucial in this shift from red to blue, as highlighted by the University of California Los Angeles’s Latino Policy and Politics Initiative. The Latino demographic in Arizona has only grown since then, and ongoing nonpartisan voter registration efforts aim to amplify their voice further.
The NALEO Educational Fund projects that over 855,000 Latino votes will be cast in Arizona this election cycle, marking a 57% increase from 2016. This surge in Latino voter turnout coincides with Arizona experiencing extreme heat, increased heat-associated deaths, worsening drought, and higher energy demands, all intensified by greenhouse gas emissions. The Chispa AZ poll reflects that these environmental changes are shifting priorities among Latino voters.
Polling from Univision, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University ahead of the 2022 midterms indicated that inflation, abortion, jobs, and gun safety were top issues for Latino voters, with a majority leaning towards liberal candidates’ solutions. The recent boom in solar installation jobs in Arizona and the disproportionate impact of climate change on low-income and minority communities suggest that Latino voters may align even more with what Democrats are offering in terms of climate policy.
Chispa AZ’s April poll, conducted by Embold Research, surveyed 520 registered Latino voters in Arizona. The poll revealed strong support for clean energy policies. The respondents preferred renewable energy sources like rooftop solar, solar farms, hydroelectricity, and wind farms. Support for fossil fuels was notably lower, with 93% of respondents agreeing that the rising cost of electricity is a serious problem.
The poll also highlighted a lack of awareness about the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), the state’s utility regulator, after being informed about the ACC's recent actions, including halting a rule requiring 15% clean electricity generation by 2025 and adding charges to residential rooftop solar customers, a majority of respondents opposed these decisions.
The 2024 presidential race in Arizona will feature stark contrasts between candidates on climate and clean energy issues—former President Donald Trump advocates for increased fossil fuel extraction. President Joe Biden has made historic investments in climate action through the Inflation Reduction Act, bringing significant clean energy investments and jobs to Arizona.
Now that President Biden has decided to withdraw from the Democratic ticket, all eyes are on the party for a new path forward.
Down-ballot races, such as the U.S. Senate seat left open by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, also show clear divides between candidates on environmental policies.
With Latinos making up nearly a quarter of expected voters in Arizona, their support for clean energy and climate policies could be decisive. Nonpartisan organizations like Chispa AZ and Chicanos Por La Causa are working to increase Latino voter engagement and awareness about key issues, ensuring this influential demographic is well-represented in the democratic process.
As the election approaches, efforts to mobilize Latino voters in Arizona continue, focusing on their growing influence and the critical issues that matter to them. By raising awareness about environmental policies and down-ballot races, organizations hope to ensure that Latino voices are heard and that their concerns about climate change and clean energy are addressed by future leaders.
