Q&A with Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on microchips, border, transition of power

PHOENIX – As his number of days in office dwindles, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey said he’d like to see continuity in at least two areas – the growth of the semiconductor industry and border security.

“We always had an idea that this could really grow and I think you’ll see it continue to grow,” Ducey said Wednesday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show about the multibillion dollar deal with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company.

“The marketplace is demanding TSMC chips and they’re going to continue doing that. I think you’re going to see continued investment and participation in Arizona’s economy.”

Ducey also said he hoped his successor, Gov-elect Katie Hobbs, continued to make border security a focus of the office.

“Everybody knows where I stand on border security,” he said.

Here’s what else Ducey said during a sit-down Q&A:

Semiconductor industry

Landing TSMC was, “a big economic win – it’s going to transform our economy.”

TSMC recently bumped up its investment in the Phoenix facility from $12 billion to $40 billion with the announcement of a second chip plant in the Valley.

“TSMC is the biggest project the state has ever landed. The evidence is, really, that the president of the United States flies out here and assembles a coalition of people and business leaders to tell America why it’s so important.”

President Joe Biden paid a visit to the plant Dec. 6, the same day TSMC said it was building the second plant.

Including Intel’s expansion of its chipmaking at the Chandler site, “Arizona is the national/global hub for semiconductors.”

Border security

“I think, finally, the [Biden] administration is starting to see their policy is not working and there’s going to need to be more focus and I’m hopeful that Arizona’s governor is going to partner with them on making sure that people are safe and that there’s better policy.”

Transition of power with Hobbs

Ducey reached out to Hobbs after she was projected to be winner of the Nov. 8 election and met with her two weeks later to offer support during the transition.

“I’ve talked to her, of course, about the transition and I’m going to make sure that it’s seamless,” he said Wednesday, reiterating tweets he sent after meeting with Hobbs.

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