Western Voters Show Strong Support for Environmental Protections

The increasing impacts of climate change and the potential weakening of environmental regulations have become significant concerns for voters across eight Western states. A recent poll conducted by Colorado College’s State of the Rockies project reveals a widespread desire to prioritize the protection of natural resources.

According to the poll released on February 18, 84% of Western voters view the rollback of laws safeguarding land, water, and wildlife as a serious issue. This figure marks a noticeable increase from 68% recorded eight years prior. The findings are part of the annual Conservation in the West survey, which has tracked Western voters’ environmental and energy perspectives since 2011.

Ian Johnson, director of strategic initiatives and sustainability at Colorado College, emphasized the value of the poll’s data set in understanding public attitudes over time. He stated, “Communities are now grappling with pressure on land and water, wildfire risk, competing energy priorities and questions about stewardship that define both livelihoods and quality of life.”

Climate change is recognized as an “extremely” or “very” serious problem by over half of the Western voters, a significant rise from the numbers reported in 2011. While voters in Wyoming are less inclined to view it as a pressing issue, the majority in other surveyed states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Utah, consider it a serious concern.

The survey, conducted in January 2026, gathered responses from 3,419 voters across Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming. It was a collaborative effort between Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz & Associates, a Democratic polling firm, and New Bridge Strategy, a Republican firm based in Colorado.

Western voters expressed a clear preference for federal management of public lands with an emphasis on environmental protection and recreation, as opposed to prioritizing energy production. This sentiment contrasts with the “energy dominance” agenda previously pursued by the Trump administration, which sought to reduce protections like the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands Rule.

Concerns about funding cuts to national parks and the rollback of environmental protections are shared by nearly 90% of Western voters, including a significant portion of those identifying as “MAGA supporters.” Lori Weigel of New Bridge Strategy noted the heightened level of concern, stating, “Now that things are happening, the level of concern is very different.”

Regarding public lands, voters remain largely opposed to selling them for energy development or housing. A proposal to sell millions of acres of federally owned land, championed by Utah Sen. Mike Lee, failed to advance in Congress last year.

Water issues also feature prominently in the poll, particularly among the six states involved in the Colorado River Compact. Following unsuccessful negotiations to allocate the river’s dwindling water supply, more than 80% of voters from these states support an agreement to reduce water usage collectively. Weigel commented on the public’s willingness to conserve, saying, “We’ve seen over time that they say, ‘Yeah, we ought to be able to conserve our way out of some of these problems.’”

This story was republished from Colorado Newsline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.