Westerners want more conservation action from elected officials
Regardless of political party, Western voters in swing states like Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada say the outdoors are central to their way of life. They identify with 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time, voters are eager to see politicians in Washington create new protections for threatened landscapes and updating out-of-date laws that put America’s public lands at risk.
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Local Conservation Efforts Popular Across the West
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Nevada
77% of Nevada voters support the proposal to designate Bahsahwahbee (Swamp Cedars) as a national monument.
82% of Nevada voters say it’s important to update the Mining Act of 1872 to strengthen environmental safeguards and require companies to pay a royalty for mining on public lands.
66% support the proposed Bureau of Land Management rule that would instruct land managers to treat land restoration and conservation as a use of the land vs. 34% opposed.
Arizona
79% of Arizona voters support the designation of Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument near the Grand Canyon.
86% are worried about losing open spaces, natural areas, wildlife habitat, and America’s most beautiful landscapes.
57% say conservation efforts to protect the land are a top priority vs. 26% who prioritize mining for minerals.
Colorado
84% of Colorado voters — including 71% of Republicans — support the Dolores River Canyon Country national monument proposal.
52% say renewable energy production is a top priority vs. 27% who prioritize drilling for oil and gas.
87% are concerned about corporations and developers harming the lands and waters we use for outdoor recreation, hunting, and fishing.
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Digging into our 2023 Winning the West poll results
Bipartisan Support for Conservation in the West
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Republican
59% of Republican voters support the proposed Bureau of Land Management rule that would instruct land managers to treat land restoration and conservation as a use of the land.
76% support updating the Mining Law of 1872 to strengthen environmental safeguards and require companies to pay taxpayers a royalty for mining on public lands.
48% support the President designating national monuments through executive authority.
53% would be more favorable to President Biden if his administration did more to protect and conserve public lands, parks, wildlife, and national monuments.
Democrat
87% of Democratic voters say the government should do more to regulate oil, gas, and mining corporations that operate on federal lands.
94% are concerned about losing open spaces, natural areas, wildlife habitat, and America’s most beautiful landscapes.
88% support President Biden using executive authority to designate land or water as a national monument.
87% believe that the current administration has not done enough to create and protect new public lands and national monuments.
Independent
64% of Independent voters trust Congress more than President Biden to handle conservation efforts to preserve land, parks, and wildlife, but…
79% would be more favorable to President Biden if his administration did more to protect and conserve public lands, parks, wildlife, and national monuments.
70% support the proposed Bureau of Land Management rule that would instruct land managers to treat land restoration and conservation as a use of the land.