Is Right-to-Work on the Chopping Block in Arizona?

After winning control of the Arizona Legislature and the governor’s office in the 2026 midterm elections, Democrats are preparing to pursue an ambitious liberal agenda. Among their top priorities is repealing the Arizona Constitution's 80-year-old right-to-work provision.

During her election night remarks, Attorney General Kris Mayes called for Arizona to become a “right-to-organize state.” That would mean asking voters to repeal Article 25 of the Arizona Constitution, which protects employees from being required to join a labor organization as a condition of employment.

Right-to-Work in Arizona does not prevent workers from organizing or joining unions. Instead, it protects their ability to decline membership and union payments without jeopardizing their employment.

Removing those protections could affect both employees and employers.

For workers, the change could mean being required to financially support a union even if they choose not to become members. Union dues vary, but an employee could face hundreds or potentially thousands of dollars in annual payments depending on the union and applicable agreement. That’s money coming directly out of workers’ pockets — and into those of big labor unions, who are continually some of the largest funders of Democrat political campaigns.

For businesses, opponents of repeal warn that additional labor costs and changes to workplace arrangements could impact hiring decisions, investment, and competitiveness. One economic-impact estimate from business advocates puts the potential cost to Arizona companies at about $18.66 billion.

One Arizona worker put the impact of repealing Right-to-Work plainly, “I will have to part with up to 2% of my income for dues. This is coercion. What if I choose not to join the union? What if I prefer my current working conditions or disagree with a union initiative? I would still have to pay.”

Eliminating Right-to-Work would require Democrats to put the repeal on the ballot for Arizona voters to decide. This isn’t the first time Democrats and their union benefactors have tried to limit Arizonans' rights not to join a union, but this may be their best chance in decades to actually get it done.