On October 22, Leadership Now Arizona hosted business leaders for a virtual briefing on the risk environment surrounding Arizona’s 2026 elections—and why political instability poses a direct threat to the state’s economic future.
Former Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates and election law expert Sarah Gonski provided a clear-eyed assessment of emerging vulnerabilities, including potential federal overreach, attacks on mail voting and tabulation systems, cyber threats, and growing pressure on election administrators with shrinking resources.
At the same time, they emphasized Arizona’s strong safeguards and capacity to run safe, secure, and accurate elections—if the business community continues to show up.The discussion highlighted the essential role employers can play in strengthening public trust, countering misinformation, and encouraging civic participation.
The session included opening remarks from Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and was moderated by Leadership Now Arizona co-founder John Fees, with leadership welcome and close from co-founder Adam Goodman.