Arizona Groups Rally at Capitol to Demand Action on High Costs

Community organizations criticize policies they say prioritize corporations over families

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:52am

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, geometric shapes in warm tones of red, orange, and yellow, representing the high costs of living that have sparked frustration and calls for action from Arizona community groups.A fractured, colorful illustration captures the financial pressures facing Arizona families struggling with rising costs for essentials like housing, food, and healthcare.Phoenix Today

A coalition of Arizona community groups rallied at the state Capitol on Thursday to push lawmakers for solutions to high costs for housing, food, and health care. Members of the People First Economy Coalition criticized policies they say prioritize corporations and billionaires over everyday people and are calling for legislation like paid family leave, price-gouging protections, and an end to tax breaks for data centers.

Why it matters

The rally highlights growing frustration among Arizonans over the rising cost of living and the perceived lack of action from state lawmakers to address these issues. With all legislative seats up for election this year, the November vote could be pivotal in determining the direction of the state's policies on affordability.

The details

The coalition, which includes groups like Fuerte Art Collective, Opportunity Arizona, Our Voice Our Vote Arizona, and the Arizona Center for Empowerment, gathered at the state Capitol to demand that lawmakers do more to support working families. They criticized policies they say prioritize corporations and the wealthy over everyday Arizonans struggling with high prices for housing, food, and healthcare.

  • The rally took place on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • The current legislative session is three months in.

The players

Eileen Halladay

A member of Opportunity Arizona who is working to rebuild after draining her savings during a serious illness while laid off.

Stephanie Maldonado

The political director of the Arizona Center for Empowerment, which has annually proposed legislation for paid family medical leave for about seven years.

Matt Gress

A Republican state representative who says affordability is one of the legislature's top priorities.

Katie Hobbs

The Democratic governor of Arizona who vetoed a bill in 2023 to ban sales taxes on groceries.

People First Economy Coalition

A coalition of two dozen organizations calling for legislation on issues like paid family leave, price-gouging protections, and an end to tax breaks for data centers.

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What they’re saying

“'It's time for lawmakers to stop protecting billionaires and start investing in Arizona families.'”

— Eileen Halladay, Member, Opportunity Arizona

“'I am very fed up. I'm fed up with a system where people like me, who work, who pay taxes, who do everything we're told to do, are left struggling.'”

— Eileen Halladay, Member, Opportunity Arizona

“'We are very much interested in addressing the cost of living for Arizona families, whether it's, you know, the kitchen-table issues, rent, what have you.'”

— Matt Gress, State Representative

“'Unfortunately, the majority party has made a conscious choice, year in and year out, to not prioritize those solutions.'”

— Stephanie Maldonado, Political Director, Arizona Center for Empowerment

“'If people are fired up and tired of what is happening, we need to show up and vote. ... Not voting is still voting.'”

— Stephanie Maldonado, Political Director, Arizona Center for Empowerment

What’s next

The November 2026 election will be critical, as all legislative seats are up for election. Community groups say they will continue advocating and holding lawmakers accountable, either in the state legislature or in their own communities.

The takeaway

This rally highlights the growing frustration among Arizonans over the high cost of living and the perceived lack of action from state lawmakers to address these issues. With affordability emerging as a key concern, the upcoming elections could reshape the state's policies on issues like housing, food, and healthcare costs.