Arizona Election Results Create New Opportunities for Affordable Clean Energy

Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes have won re-election in Arizona, while Democratic candidates are leading enough legislative races to potentially secure majorities in both chambers for the first time in decades. With ballots still being counted, the results could mark a shift in Arizona’s political landscape and create new opportunities to address rising electricity costs and expand access to affordable clean energy. As energy affordability remains a top concern for households, this election could help shape the policies that determine how Arizonans access and pay for electricity.

The election of Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill to the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) also comes after years of work to help more Arizonans understand why this often-overlooked race matters. The ACC makes decisions affecting utility rates and energy policy, with direct consequences for household electricity costs. To help connect these decisions to issues affecting everyday Arizonans, Vote Solar convened a statewide coalition throughout 2026 focused on nonpartisan voter education, equipping community partners with resources to help connect the Commission’s decisions to issues like rising electricity bills. Vote Solar also hosted a candidate forum in Phoenix, giving voters an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates.

Vote Solar’s Regional Director for the West, Itzel Rios-Vega, issued the following statement:

“With electricity costs continuing to rise, Arizona leadership has an opportunity to take meaningful steps toward making clean energy more affordable and accessible. We look forward to continuing our work with Governor Hobbs’s administration and engaging with the Legislature on policies that expand access to local solar and storage and help lower energy costs for families and communities.

“We’re also happy to continue working in a state where Attorney General Kris Mayes has demonstrated a longstanding commitment to protecting solar customers. As a former Vote Solar board member and ACC commissioner, she has a deep understanding of Arizona’s energy landscape. Her office’s challenge to APS’s grid access charge, alongside challenges brought by Vote Solar and other advocates, is an important example of that work.

“This election also reinforced the importance of helping Arizonans understand the decisions being made at the Corporation Commission. We were proud to work alongside organizations across the state to make information about the ACC more accessible and encourage participation in an election that often receives little attention. These decisions have real consequences for households, from the rates they pay to the energy choices available to them.

“We congratulate Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill on their election to the ACC and look forward to working with the new Commissioners. As Arizona prepares for the next legislative session, Vote Solar will continue advocating for affordable electricity, fair treatment of solar customers, and clean energy solutions that benefit communities across the state.”