Arizona Public Lands Sale Proposed by Rep. Schweikert
In a recent podcast interview, Republican Representative David Schweikert expressed his intention to sell Arizona’s public lands if he were elected governor. This notion aligns with the interests of some of his donors, who have advocated for such sales for over three decades.
Arizona boasts approximately 30 million acres of public land, which accounts for nearly half the state. These lands include conservation areas that serve as parks and protected forests. Large corporations have shown interest in acquiring these lands for purposes such as oil and gas development and luxury real estate ventures.
Schweikert emphasized the need to establish “a rational, fair way” to transition these lands into private ownership to create economic opportunities.
Opposition to this idea comes from groups like the Arizona Wildlife Federation, which warns of negative impacts on wildlife and tourism. Their website states, “Pressures to maximize revenues or monetize these lands result in fragmented habitats that no longer provide the necessary connections and corridors, or sufficient food, water, and shelter for wildlife. Once developed, there’s no turning back.”
Koch Industries and the National Association of Realtors are among the major entities supporting these land sales. These organizations have been significant financial contributors to Schweikert’s political campaigns since his first run for the Arizona House of Representatives in 1994. The National Association of Realtors has contributed $65,000, while Koch Industries has donated over $42,000 to his campaigns.
Throughout his 15-year tenure in Congress, Schweikert has consistently voted against measures protecting public lands from private and corporate interests. This includes opposing the Protect America’s Wilderness and Public Lands Act, which sought to shield federal lands in Arizona and other states from extraction activities. Although the bill passed in the House with bipartisan approval in 2021, it was stalled by Senate Republicans.
Schweikert also cast votes against prohibiting mining on public lands in 2019, decisions that left areas like the Grand Canyon and Chaco Culture National Historical Park susceptible to resource extraction.
In 2017, he opposed a bipartisan amendment that aimed to prevent public lands from being sold or leased to private entities. This amendment did not pass.
Schweikert is currently campaigning against incumbent Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs, with fellow Republican Rep. Andy Biggs also in the primary race. Both Schweikert and Biggs favor the sale of public lands.
Governor Hobbs has prioritized land conservation during her tenure. She notably opposed a component of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB) that proposed selling millions of acres of public lands in western states. In a Facebook post, Hobbs declared, “Arizona is not for sale,” emphasizing the risk to treasured locations such as Mount Lemmon and Cathedral Rock.
Schweikert has been a supporter of the OBBB, despite a survey by Colorado College indicating that nearly three in five Arizona voters opposed the bill’s reduction of land protections.
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