PHOENIX – Two East Valley mayors are launching a new program called Disagree Better Arizona to help residents save their social lives this election season.
The bipartisan initiative is led by Democratic Tempe Mayor Corey Woods and Republican Mesa Mayor John Giles to help Arizonans engage in a more enriching—and less combative—political discourse.
The initiative they launched is inspired by the Disagree Better platform launched by Utah’s Republican governor Spencer Cox in 2023.
The platform aims to prevent political disagreements from leading to polarization. It offers techniques for productive, civilized conversations that bring people closer together rather than driving them apart.
“The Disagree Better Arizona initiative gives people the tools they need to have meaningful discussions,” Woods said in a press release Tuesday. “It’s about focusing on what unites us, not what divides us. That’s so important in our families, our neighborhoods and our cities.”
Why Valley Mayors Launched Disagree Better Arizona
Data from PEW Research found that many adults in the U.S. reject people who disagree with them politically. In addition, the organization found that 61% of American adults described political conversations with people they disagree with as “stressful and frustrating.”
That is why Woods and Giles have released tools to help people resolve political disagreements before Parliamentary elections on November 5th.
“Cities are at the forefront of tackling everyday challenges and harnessing diverse perspectives to shape the future,” Giles said in the release. “It’s important that we model and encourage the kind of respectful discourse that leads to real progress.”
The mayors provide a free online toolkit with helpful articles, videos and podcasts. Visitors to the site can learn how to navigate tense political conversations with family and find other useful resources.
“Disagree Better Arizona is not about abandoning values or ignoring problems,” Giles said. “It’s about leading with respect and starting conversations to rebuild trust and connections with our friends and neighbors.”
