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Friday, Apr. 10, 2026

Are the Turning Point USA-backed candidates for the Salt River Project leadership election pro-sustainability?

Mia Osmonbekov, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
no

The candidates who won seats on the 2026 Salt River Project board and were endorsed by Turning Point USA—Chris Dobson and Barry Paceley—emphasized affordability over sustainability. The only Turning Point-backed candidate to include sustainability in his platform, Kelly Cooper, lost his election. 

Turning Point Chief Operating Officer Tyler Bowyer posted on X in August that the organization is trying to “get the radical environmentalists out of AZ and prevent them from dramatically increasing our Utility rates” by supporting candidates for the Salt River Project (SRP) election. 

Candidates backed by environmental groups won the remaining 11 of 13 SRP board seats. 

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