Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios
Democrats and Republicans alike hyped their work on the CHIPS and Science Act on the campaign trail this year, highlighting how the law will bring jobs back to the U.S.
The big picture: Incumbents in some of the largest manufacturing states in America thought voters might be swayed by the $280 billion bipartisan bill, but not everyone who devoted ad dollars to the law will be back on the Hill next year.
- Sen. Sherrod Brown told Axios that the law resonated well with voters, blaming being unable to run ahead of the national brand of Democrats for his loss: "We just couldn't overcome a 12-point Harris loss."
In Pennsylvania, Sen. Bob Casey ran ads focused on the bipartisan nature of the law and its focus on reshoring manufacturing.
- "90% of our advanced semiconductor chips were being made in Asia, creating havoc in our supply chains and raising costs," Casey said in the ad titled Engine. "That's why I worked with Republicans and Democrats to pass the CHIPS and Science Act, to produce our own chips right here in America."
- His opponent Dave McCormick highlighted a NY Post item that criticized this ad and Casey's record on the bill.
- While the AP has called the race for McCormick, Casey has not conceded and a recount is now underway.
Also in Pennsylvania, Rep. Susan Wild ran a Spanish language ad that touted her work to bring good-paying jobs in industries like chip manufacturing.
- Wild, who lost her race this year, had also run an ad back in 2022 when she successfully won reelection on her work to pass the CHIPS Act.
- Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, who won her reelection race this year, placed an ad during the campaign that stated "in Congress, there are doers who get their hands dirty. Chrissy Houlahan: computer chips made in America."
In Texas, Sen. Ted Cruz spotlighted his bipartisan bill to exempt certain CHIPS Act projects from some environmental permitting requirements.
- "Ted Cruz has written and passed legislation keeping Texas strong ... Streamlining permitting for new Texas semiconductor plants, reducing our reliance on China. Ted Cruz delivered," the ad, which aired in several markets across Texas from Oct. 31 to election day, stated.
- President Biden signed the bill into law early last month.
- Cruz, however, voted against the CHIPS and Science Act in 2022.
In Ohio, Brown ran ads on the economic boost the CHIPS Act is delivering to the state and his work across the aisle to make that happen.
- "It's amazing something this small can make such a big impact because these chips are in nearly everything we buy and foreign countries control their supply and cost. But that's about to change because the world's largest plant is being built here, creating 20,000 jobs across Ohio," he said in one spot.
- Brown lost the toss-up race to Republican Bernie Moreno.
In Washington, Sen. Maria Cantwell ran in a safe seat but still placed an ad on her work on the CHIPS and Science Act.
- "I led a bipartisan initiative to bring computer chip manufacturing and other supply chains back to America generating in private sector investment to make the chips that run our cars, our appliances and even our farm equipment, creating jobs, boosting our competitiveness and lowering costs," she said. "It's beginning to work."
