PHOENIX, AZ – A recent poll by Noble Predictive Insights reveals that affordable housing has become a key issue for Arizona voters of all political affiliations, marking a significant shift in voter priorities. The poll, conducted in May with nearly 2,000 registered and likely voters, found that affordable housing is the #1 concern for Democrats, #2 for independents, and #3 for Republicans.
For the first time in decades, affordable housing has surfaced as a critical issue, overtaking other long-standing concerns such as inflation, immigration, and abortion. The poll highlights the broad appeal of the issue, resonating with diverse groups including rural voters, young voters, and Hispanic voters.
“The rapid rise in housing costs since 2020 is driving voters’ focus on affordable housing,” said Mike Noble, the pollster behind the survey. “Voters are increasingly feeling the financial strain from housing costs, whether they’re trying to buy a home or upgrade their rental situation. This pressure makes housing a pivotal issue that neither political party can afford to ignore.”
Arizona’s housing crisis, which saw a shortfall of around 100,000 units in 2020, has been met with increased construction efforts and policy changes. This year, Governor Katie Hobbs signed four bipartisan bills aimed at accelerating housing development and reducing costs. Two of the bills, supported by the Arizona Multihousing Association, focus on incentivizing redevelopment and adaptive reuse of commercial properties.
Noble advised political candidates to take note of this shift and integrate affordable housing into their platforms. “Housing is a unique issue because it’s politically unclaimed,” Noble explained. “Candidates should seize this opportunity to craft and refine their position on housing, as voters across the board are eager for solutions.”
As affordable housing continues to dominate voter concerns, candidates from all parties will need to address the issue in their campaigns to connect with the electorate.
