(RepublicanNews.org) – Indiana US Representative Jim Banks announced on January 17 that he is running for the Senate seat soon to be vacated by Republican Mike Braun who is aiming for the governor’s mansion.
Banks, also a Republican, announced his campaign in a video in which he attacks what he calls the “radical, Socialist” Democrats who are “trying to change America.”
A strong ally of former President Donald Trump, Banks also voted for Kevin McCarthy to take the Speaker’s gavel in the US House when McCarthy was embroiled in an internal Republican party battle for the speakership. McCarthy only won the seat after a surprising 15 rounds of voting.
Banks is not afraid to show his support for Trump, telling news outlets that Trump remains highly popular with most in the Republican party.
When Trump initially refused to concede the 2020 presidential election, Banks joined other GOP House members to support a Texas lawsuit that attempted to challenge Biden’s victory in several states. Banks also voted against certifying the Electoral College’s awarding of the presidency to Joe Biden.
In his campaign announcement, Banks pointed to his conservative bona fides and said Indiana deserves a conservative like him to represent the state. Banks is a veteran of the Afghanistan war and is currently in his fourth term representing his northeast Indiana district.
Though he has not announced a run for the Indiana Senate seat, political watchers say former two-term Indiana governor Mitch Daniels may become Banks’ opponent. Banks is so far the first and only contender for the seat.
Banks describes his politics as pro-military, pro-family, and pro-life. He said the Biden administration needs to be held to account, and that he (Banks) intends to push for conservative values in Washington to help “restore” America.
His approach contrasts with that taken by many GOP politicians, Banks says. Criticizing Daniels’ “truce” approach to social issues, Banks said America needs unabashed conservatives willing to push back on issues like Critical Race Theory in schools and the idea that racism pervades everyday American life.
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