Poll Shows Residents of Western States Prefer Conservation Over Oil and Gas

The majority of the poll’s respondents identified as politically conservative or independent, with 40 percent supporting MAGA platform.

1 minute read

March 3, 2025, 7:00 AM PST

By Christine McLaren


Elk stands looking over its shoulder in a meadow with snow-capped mountains in background in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado.

bwolski / Adobe Stock

A bipartisan poll of voters in eight western states shows nearly three quarters of respondents support conservation and environmental protection on public lands over resource extraction.

“72% of respondents… said they would prefer their member of Congress to emphasize protecting clean air, water and wildlife habitat while boosting outdoor recreation over maximizing the amount of public land used for oil and gas drilling,” reports High Country News. That number represents an increase of two percent from last year’s poll and the highest in the poll’s fifteen year history. 

The survey, published by Colorado College in collaboration with two pollsters — one Democrat and one Republican — polled residents of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana, Utah and Wyoming. Most of the respondents identified as politically conservative or independent, and four out of ten said they supported President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” platform. 

The report, titled Conservation in the West, also covers westerners’ support for federal and state climate change policies, public land decision-making authority and more.

Thursday, February 20, 2025 in High Country News

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 11, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Metrorail train pulling into newly opened subterranean station in Washington, D.C. with crowd on platform taking photos.

Congressman Proposes Bill to Rename DC Metro “Trump Train”

The Make Autorail Great Again Act would withhold federal funding to the system until the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA), rebrands as the Washington Metropolitan Authority for Greater Access (WMAGA).

June 2, 2025 - The Hill

Large crowd on street in San Francisco, California during Oktoberfest festival.

The Simple Legislative Tool Transforming Vacant Downtowns

In California, Michigan and Georgia, an easy win is bringing dollars — and delight — back to city centers.

June 2, 2025 - Robbie Silver

Man in teal shirt opening door to white microtransit shuttle with cactus graphics and making inviting gesture toward the camera.

Albuquerque’s Microtransit: A Planner’s Answer to Food Access Gaps

New microtransit vans in Albuquerque aim to close food access gaps by linking low-income areas to grocery stores, cutting travel times by 30 percent and offering planners a scalable model for equity-focused transit.

June 13 - U.S. Department Of Transportation

Group of people at table set ouf with picnic food on street during a neighborhood block party.

This City Will Pay You to Meet Your Neighbors

A North Kansas City grant program offers up to $400 for residents to throw neighborhood block parties.

June 13 - The Kansas City Star

Crowd gathered with protest signs on April 5, 2025 on steps of Minnesota state capitol protesting Trump cuts to social security and other federal programs.

Commentary: Our Silence Will Not Protect Us

Keeping our heads down and our language inoffensive is not the right response to the times we’re in. Solidarity and courage is.

June 13 - Shelterforce Magazine

Please login or create a new account to proceed. You will need a Planetizen account to post a job, news, or an announcement.