TPA Targets Liberal Energy Agenda Through SRP Election Action

Turning Point Action (TPAction) is retooling its devastatingly effective “Chase the Vote” machine to focus on two of Arizona’s most overlooked but powerful elections—the Salt River Project (SRP) and Council races. With control over water policy, electricity rates, and energy priorities for millions of Arizonans on the line, TPAction is mobilizing property-owning voters to strike back against traditionally low turnout and a progressive push inside SRP leadership.

The SRP and Council elections are set for April 7, 2026, and conservative activist group Turning Point Action is mounting an aggressive campaign to boost participation among eligible property owners. The elections will determine who sets policy for one of Arizona’s most powerful public utilities, controlling both electricity and water decisions for millions of residents.

Voting rights in SRP races are tied to property ownership. Eligible voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years old, and registered to vote in Arizona. In addition, they must be SRP customers and own property in an SRP voting district, either in their own name or through a qualified trust. Voting is acreage-based: one acre equals one vote, with fractional acres counting proportionally. The exception is for at-large director races, which are decided by one-person, one-vote. Owned property must be located within the District, the Association, or both. Like other state elections, permanent early voting is available, but requires a proactive voter request.

There’s a lot at stake in the next election. SRP operates through two governing bodies—the Association (water) and the District (electric). Seats up for election in 2026 include:

• President and Vice President of both the Association and the District
• Association Board of Governors seats in Districts 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10
• Three Association Council seats per district
• District Board of Directors seats in the same divisions, plus two at-large directors
• Three District Council seats per division

Board members shape SRP’s budgets, rates, and investment strategies, while the Councils have authority to amend bylaws and fill vacancies. Decisions made by these bodies impact electricity costs, water allocation, clean-energy adoption, and infrastructure projects across SRP’s territory.

TPAction has launched an SRP-specific voter education page, complete with eligibility requirements, voting instructions, and reminders to request ballots early. The group is applying its “Chase the Vote” model, previously deployed in state and national races, to this local utility election. That model relies on door-to-door canvassing, repeated follow-up, and ballot collection tracking to mobilize low-propensity conservative voters. While SRP elections traditionally draw just 1–2% turnout among eligible property owners, TPAction’s presence signals a new phase of political engagement in what has historically been a low-profile contest.

Critics of the current system argue that acreage-based voting disenfranchises renters and urban residents who still rely on SRP’s services. Reform advocates want to see a shift toward OPOV (one-person, one-vote). Supporters of the status quo counter that the current system reflects SRP’s origins as a landowner-run agricultural improvement district and helps protect ratepayers’ interests from politicization.

Candidate filings for the 2026 election open later this year, with an official Candidate Forum scheduled for October 10, 2025. Early ballots will be mailed in mid-March 2026, and voters can also cast ballots in person at SRP’s Tempe voting center.

As TPAction ramps up its campaign, both clean-energy advocates and traditional SRP stakeholders are watching closely to see whether the group’s organizing muscle can reshape turnout, and potentially the future of Arizona’s water and power policy.

For questions or information regarding the SRP elections process, contact the SRP Election Information Line at (602) 236-3048 or [email protected].