Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) fell just short in his bid to become the House Majority Whip for the next Congress, but he is far from giving up on his ambitions.
Axios reported Tuesday night that the representative is considering a 2024 run for the U.S. Senate. This was confirmed by Banks’ communication director, Buckley Carlson.
Banks finished ahead of the other two candidates in the first ballot for Majority Whip but fell short by nine votes when he went toe-to-toe with National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Tom Emmer (R-MN).
Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is considering a run for U.S. Senate after failing to secure a House Republican leadership position. https://t.co/pB5f7QAAex
— Axios (@axios) November 23, 2022
There’s a catch to his Senate hopes. Banks intends to throw his hat into the ring if Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) declines a reelection bid and instead pursues the governorship of Indiana.
Braun recently told local media outlets that he will announce his intentions soon. Speculation has been rampant that he will forgo another bid for Senate and choose the governor’s race.
The current officeholder, Republican Eric Holcomb, is prevented from seeking another stint in office by term limits. He has also drawn the ire of conservative GOP members for liberal stances, including his veto of legislation protecting women’s sports.
The state legislature promptly overturned that veto with Banks’ backing, perhaps indicating the mood of the electorate towards supporting a more conservative voice to lead the state.
Banks is considered a rising Republican star. The Afghanistan veteran has served three terms in the House and was blocked from his appointment on the Jan. 6 select committee by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Many would consider that another badge of honor.
He was first elected to Congress in 2018 when he defeated incumbent Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN).
He is also the outgoing chair of the high-profile Republican Study Committee. And as Indy Politics reported, Banks is “all in for the U.S. Senate.”
