Independent Voters in Arizona Targeted as Biden Pushes Big Intel Investments

(Patria) - President Joe Biden's move on Wednesday to pump $19.5 billion into Intel's expanded chip manufacturing business could pay off for a critical segment of the American electorate that his Democrats need - independent voters in the state of Arizona.

The move will create thousands of jobs in the southwestern state that is expected to play a key role in determining the November 5 presidential and congressional elections. Recent polls show the economy is the second concern for Arizona voters after immigration, Reuters reported.

In addition to the contest between Biden and Republican challenger Donald Trump, Arizona voters will elect a successor to retiring Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat who became an independent, and decide two close races for House seats currently held by Republicans.

"The potential could be independent voters," said Thom Reilly, a professor at Arizona State University's School of Public Affairs, who says independents are the largest voting bloc in the state and represented about 40% of voters in the 2022 midterm elections. "Independents turned out in significant numbers for Democrats in 2022," said Reilly, who added that Wednesday's news could carry weight with the large and growing number of young and Latino voters.

The funds come from the 2022 Chips and Science Act, which provides about $52 billion in federal government subsidies to support domestic semiconductor manufacturing, along with about $24 billion in investment tax credits. In addition to Arizona, funds will go to Ohio, home to another key Senate race, New Mexico, and Oregon. Intel estimates that the new facilities will create 3,000 new jobs at the company and another 6,000 for construction workers building those factories.

Arizona will play a key role in determining whether Democrats can protect their slim 51-49 Senate majority. Democratic Representative Ruben Gallego and former Republican television broadcaster Kari Lake, who is backed by Trump, will be in the race.

Biden won Arizona in the race against Trump in 2020. A February 22 Emerson College poll of 1,000 registered voters in the state showed Trump leading 46% to 43%, within the three-percentage-point margin of error. In the same poll, Gallego led 46% to 39% for Lake, with 15% undecided.

Intel said the new, expanded facilities will be in the city of Chandler, about 32 km southeast of Phoenix, which is close to two of the state's most competitive House districts. With Republicans holding a slim 219-213 majority, a few changes could shift control of the House. Both seats are held by Republicans, David Schweikert and Juan Ciscomani. Republicans and Democrats hold primaries on July 30. Schweikert, who was re-elected in 2022 by 3,200 votes, voted against the chip investment bill, as did most of his Republican House colleagues. Ciscomani is a first-term Republican who was not in Congress in 2022.

Gallego voted for the bill.