8 out of 10

WESTERN VOTERS SAY CONSERVATION ISSUES WILL IMPACT HOW THEY VOTE

76%

OF WESTERN VOTERS APPROVE OF PRESIDENT BIDEN’S AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL INITIATIVE

68%

OF VOTERS SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT DESIGNATING NATIONAL MONUMENTS THROUGH HIS EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY

91%

OF WESTERN VOTERS BELIEVE LEADERS NEED TO DO MORE TO PLAN FOR MORE SEVERE DROUGHTS AND WILDFIRES

77%

OF VOTERS ARE CONCERNED THAT THE DECISIONS BEING MADE IN D.C. HURT THE ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN WESTERN AND RURAL AREAS

69%

OF VOTERS SAY THEY WOULD BE MORE FAVORABLE TOWARD PRESIDENT BIDEN IF HE DID MORE TO PROTECT AND CONSERVE PUBLIC LANDS, PARKS, AND WILDLIFE

Westerners Support Conservation Efforts But Are Increasingly Frustrated with Lack of Action

Regardless of political party, Western voters in swing states like Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, and New Mexico told us in a recent poll that the outdoors are central to their way of life. They identify with the region’s outdoor spaces and deeply value access for hiking, hunting, fishing, and camping. 

Overwhelming majorities say that national public lands, parks, and wildlife issues are not only important to them, but that these issues will play an influential role in how they choose to vote. 

At the same time, voters are now expressing frustrations, believing politicians in D.C. are out-of-touch and not delivering on what they promised on the outdoor and public lands issues Western voters care so much about.

Download the Poll

Local Conservation Efforts Popular Across the West

Click a state for more information and toplines.

Nevada

77% of Nevadans support a proposal to designate Avi Kwa Ame (Spirit Mountain) as a national monument.

76% are favorable towards candidates who invest in the renewable energy sector.

60% believe that oil and gas development on public land should be only allowed with strict limitations and regulations.

Arizona

60% of Arizonans support permanently banning new uranium and other mining on public lands surrounding the Grand Canyon.

81% believe that states in the West need better options for clean energy to suit the West’s unique climate and landscapes

79% are favorable towards candidates who create new clean energy jobs

New Mexico

80% of New Mexicans support proposals to preserve Caja del Rio, which would help preserve culturally significant sites and an important wildlife corridor.

73% believe that leaders need to do more to support the clean energy industries in their state.

60% agree that oil and gas development on public land should be only allowed with strict limitations and regulations.

Colorado

86% of Coloradans support the Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy Act, which would protect over 400,000 acres of land in the state through new wilderness, recreation, and conservation areas.

82% believe that leaders need to do more to support the clean energy industries in their state.

82% support establishing the Dolores River Canyon Area as a national monument.

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Bipartisan Support for Conservation in the West

Click an icon for more information and toplines.

Republican

83% support increasing access for outdoor recreation

73% say public lands and outdoor issues will play an influential role in how they choose to vote.

48% support the President designating national monuments through executive authority.

59% approve of President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative.

Democrat

87% support the President designating national monuments through executive authority.

92% approve of President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative.

87% report that conservation issues will impact their vote.

87% believe that the current administration has not done enough to create and protect new public lands and national monuments.

Independent

81% say public lands and outdoor issues will play an influential role in how they choose to vote.

63% are concerned that the government will not do enough to protect America’s natural resources against overdevelopment and environmental disasters.

66% support the President designating national monuments through executive authority.

75% approve of President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative.

Elected Officials Gain Favorability with Western Voters by Protecting Public Lands

88% are more favorable to an elected leader who supports protecting existing national parks and national monuments

84% are more favorable to an elected official who wants to ensure public lands are protected from development and 83% are more favorable to one who promises to invest in recreation sites and parks. 

77% are more favorable to an elected official who wants to designate new national parks and monuments. 

Just 21% are more favorable to an elected official who supports drilling and mining for oil and other minerals on public lands. 

Only 11% are more favorable to an elected official who wants to develop public lands for commercial purposes. 

2022 Drilldown by State

Uranium mining near the Grand Canyon is not popular

Do you support or oppose leaders in your state enacting legislation that would make permanent the current ban on new uranium and other mining on existing public lands, roughly one million acres, surrounding the Grand Canyon?


All AZ Voters

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Strongly Support

34

62

20

20

Somewhat Support

28

18

29

35

Somewhat Opppose

26

15

29

34

Strongly Oppose

12

5

21

11

TOTAL SUPPORT

62

80

49

55

TOTAL OPPOSE

38

20

51

45

In Arizona, do you support or oppose an executive order that would make permanent the current ban on new uranium and other mining on existing public lands, roughly one million acres, surrounding the Grand Canyon?


All AZ Voters

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Strongly Support

34

65

16

22

Somewhat Support

23

18

19

30

Somewhat Opppose

24

9

36

29

Strongly Oppose

18

7

30

19

TOTAL SUPPORT

58

83

35

52

TOTAL OPPOSE

42

17

65

48

Colorado voters support new national monument protections

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy, or CORE Act, would protect over 400,000 acres of land in the state through new wilderness, recreation, and conservation areas in the Thompson Divide, the Continental Divide, the San Juan Mountains, and the Curecanti National Recreation Area. It would also establish new protections for historic Camp Hale, where the storied Tenth Mountain Division trained during World War Two. Do you support or oppose giving national monument protections to these areas?


All CO Voters

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Strongly Support

42

55

31

40

Somewhat Support

44

36

53

42

Somewhat Opppose

7

5

13

5

Strongly Oppose

7

3

3

12

TOTAL SUPPORT

86

92

84

83

TOTAL OPPOSE

14

8

16

17

There is currently a proposal to protect existing public lands surrounding the Dolores River Canyon in western Colorado to conserve important wildlife habitats, safeguard the area’s scenic beauty, and support outdoor recreation. Would you support or oppose designating the Dolores River Canyon Area as a national monument?


All CO Voters

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Strongly Support

43

54

32

43

Somewhat Support

38

38

49

32

Somewhat Opppose

12

6

11

17

Strongly Oppose

6

1

7

8

TOTAL SUPPORT

82

92

81

74

TOTAL OPPOSE

18

8

19

25

There is strong support for designating Avi Kwa Ame as a national monument

There is currently a proposal to designate existing public lands just east of the Mojave National Preserve in southern Nevada as Avi Kwa Ame (Spirit Mountain) national monument, which would ensure outdoor recreation and help preserve sacred Native sites while not allowing energy development or mining on these lands. Do you support or oppose designating this area as a national monument?


All NV Voters

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Strongly Support

41

68

16

37

Somewhat Support

36

24

45

40

Somewhat Opppose

13

6

20

14

Strongly Oppose

10

2

18

9

TOTAL SUPPORT

77

92

61

77

TOTAL OPPOSE

23

8

39

23

Voters support increased protections for Caja del Rio

There is currently a proposal to permanently preserve Caja del Rio between the Rio Grande and Santa Fe rivers, which would help preserve culturally significant sites, petroglyphs, geologic features, and an important wildlife corridor. Do you support or oppose permanently protecting Caja del Rio?


All NM Voters

Democrat

Republican

Independent

Strongly Support

45

63

20

44

Somewhat Support

35

30

45

30

Somewhat Opppose

10

4

14

18

Strongly Oppose

10

3

22

8

TOTAL SUPPORT

80

93

64

74

TOTAL OPPOSE

20

7

36

26

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About

The Winning the West poll was conducted in May 2022 by Benenson Strategy Group. It included 2,011 online interviews with 2022 likely voters in Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada.

Interested in learning more? The Center for Western Priorities is available to provide briefings on the importance of a pro-public lands message to winning Western votes. Our polling is a useful resource to candidates and interested parties looking to connect with voters in the Mountain West.

The Center for Western Priorities is a conservation policy and advocacy organization focused on land and energy issues across the American West.

info@westernpriorities.org
303-974-7761