Poll: Swing District Represented by Rep. O’Halleran Rate Climate Provisions of Infrastructure Plan Highly

A new poll released today revealed support for President Joe Biden’s infrastructure proposal across the political spectrum in Arizona’s First Congressional District. The district, represented by Rep. Tom O’Halleran, includes much of Arizona outside metro Phoenix and Tucson and is home to more Native Americans than any other congressional district in the country. This survey, providing district-specific data on how voters view the American Jobs Plan (AJP), is sponsored by Earthjustice, Environment America and Moms Clean Air Force Arizona.

The poll found that overall, voters support the bill by a 10-point margin (51% to 41%). 57% of the all-important Independent voters polled approve of the plan. 60% of those surveyed said Congress should pass the bill if a bipartisan majority of the U.S. public supports it, even if Congress does not reflect that bipartisanship.

On multiple measures, voters in the district clearly signal that components of the AJP that focus specifically on climate change and clean energy are a significant selling point. When told that the plan includes a major emphasis on investments to expand the use of clean energy, such as wind and solar power, to tackle the climate crisis and create jobs, 59%of voters in the First District firmly say that this approach makes them more likely to support the AJP.

Among the specific provisions designed to address the climate crisis:

• 75% of voters in the First District support investments to rebuild roads and bridges and modernize public transportation to ensure it is cleaner and able to serve more people.
• 63% of voters support addressing the challenge of climate change by shifting to greater use of clean energy, reducing carbon pollution from vehicles and industry, and making homes and buildings more energy efficient.
• 63% of voters support investments in clean energy such as wind and solar power by extending tax credits to spur innovation and manufacturing.
• 57% of voters support investments in electric vehicles and charging stations to reduce pollution and help more Americans buy clean cars.

“Arizona has been hit hard by the climate crisis and the societal devastation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Columba Sainz, Arizona State Coordinator for Moms Clean Air Force Arizona. “The American Jobs Plan is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in what matters and tackle the climate crisis, and this data demonstrates that Arizonans support President Biden’s plan to build back better.”

The survey was conducted via live telephone conversations between May 4 to May 9 by Hart Research Associates for Earthjustice and Environment America, in cooperation with the League of Conservation Voters.