Daniel Butierez

I will ensure evidence and scientific findings play a central role in policymaking by establishing independent advisory panels of qualified scientists, researchers, engineers, medical professionals, economists, and other subject matter experts.

These advisors will evaluate the evidence behind proposed legislation, identify what is known and unknown, examine competing claims, and assess potential costs, benefits, and unintended consequences. I will seek input from universities, federal and state agencies, industry professionals, and local experts rather than relying on a single source or political viewpoint.

I will also promote transparency. When scientific or technical claims are used to support legislation, the underlying data and methodology should be available for independent review whenever possible. Policymakers and the public deserve to know how conclusions were reached.

At the same time, science should inform policy, not dictate it. Elected officials must consider scientific evidence alongside constitutional principles, individual liberty, public safety, economic realities, and the needs of their constituents.

My commitment is to make decisions based on the best available evidence, remain open to legitimate disagreement, and change course when credible new evidence demonstrates that a policy is not producing the intended results. Good government requires facts, transparency, accountability, and the willingness to follow the evidence wherever it leads.

I will support federal investment in innovation that strengthens America’s economy, national security, infrastructure, and quality of life. Federal science funding should prioritize research with the potential to produce practical benefits while also supporting basic research that creates the foundation for future breakthroughs.

I will support competitive grants for universities, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and research institutions, with an emphasis on developing new technologies and bringing promising discoveries from the laboratory into the marketplace. I will also encourage partnerships between government, universities, and the private sector to reduce duplication and help move innovations into production.

For Arizona and Southern Arizona, I will advocate for research and development in areas important to our region, including water conservation, advanced energy, mining technology, agriculture, aerospace, defense, and emerging technologies.

Federal funding must also be accountable. Grants should be evaluated on scientific merit, measurable outcomes, and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. I will support innovation while demanding transparency, competition, and results.

Arizona needs practical solutions that protect our environment while allowing our communities and economy to grow. Water scarcity is one of our most serious challenges. I support investment in water conservation, recycling and reuse, groundwater monitoring, desalination research, and technologies that help agriculture, industry, and communities use water more efficiently.

As AI data centers expand, they must not shift their water and infrastructure costs onto taxpayers or existing residents. New facilities should demonstrate reliable water and energy supplies and contribute to the infrastructure necessary to support their operations. We should also encourage cooling technologies that reduce water consumption.

Mining remains an important part of Arizona’s economy, but responsible development requires strong standards for managing extraction waste, protecting groundwater, and restoring affected land. Companies should be held accountable for the environmental impacts of their operations.

Extreme heat requires investment in resilient infrastructure, reliable energy, water systems, and technologies that reduce energy consumption.

I support science based environmental policies grounded in measurable evidence. However, regulations must also be practical and economically responsible. Arizona can protect its natural resources while preserving jobs, energy reliability, economic opportunity, and the industries that support our communities.

I support policies that strengthen public health preparedness while respecting individual rights and personal responsibility. Preventing future outbreaks requires better disease surveillance, rapid communication, access to accurate information, and strong cooperation between local, state, and federal health agencies.

Vaccination remains an important tool for preventing measles and other highly contagious diseases, and I support ensuring families have access to reliable information and affordable vaccines. Parents should also have access to qualified medical professionals who can answer their questions and help them make informed decisions.

We should improve our ability to identify outbreaks early, quickly notify communities and healthcare providers, and ensure hospitals and public health departments have the resources necessary to respond.

I also believe public health recommendations must be based on credible scientific evidence, not politics. Government should clearly explain the evidence behind its recommendations and be transparent about risks and uncertainties.

My goal is a prepared public health system that protects communities, provides accurate information, respects individual liberties, and responds quickly when outbreaks occur.

I support reasonable protections for children and teenagers on social media, while protecting free speech and parental authority. Social media can provide valuable access to information, including science and public policy, but young people can also be exposed to misinformation, manipulation, harmful content, and addictive design features.

I support stronger age verification and meaningful parental controls, particularly for younger children. Parents should have the ability to understand what platforms their children are using, control access when appropriate, and limit the collection and use of minors’ personal information.

Social media companies should also be held accountable for protecting minors’ privacy and clearly disclosing how algorithms recommend content to young users. Platforms should not be allowed to deliberately exploit children’s vulnerabilities simply to increase engagement and advertising revenue.

However, I do not support government deciding what legitimate political or scientific opinions young people are allowed to see. Parents, not government agencies or technology companies, should remain the primary decision makers regarding their children.

My approach would focus on protecting children, increasing transparency, strengthening parental control, and holding platforms accountable while preserving constitutional free speech rights and access to information.

Arizona’s education system needs improvement, but the answer is not simply spending more money. We must demand accountability and give parents meaningful choices. I support Education Savings Accounts because parents should have the ability to choose the educational environment that best meets their child’s needs, whether that is public school, private school, charter school, or homeschooling.

Public schools should receive adequate resources, but funding should follow students and be tied to results, not simply increased spending. We need to focus on teacher quality, literacy, mathematics, career and technical education, and preparing students for real opportunities after graduation.

Science should be a fundamental part of K 12 education. Students should learn how to evaluate evidence, understand the scientific method, think critically, and distinguish established scientific findings from opinion or political claims.

Arizona should encourage strong science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education while giving parents the freedom to choose the education that best serves their children. Our goal should be better outcomes, greater parental choice, and accountability for every education dollar spent.