Jim Banks

Jim Banks
Official portrait, 2025
Jim Banks
Born	James Edward Banks 16 7, 1979
Birthplace	Columbia City, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, naval officer
Known for	U.S. Senator from Indiana, Chair of the Republican Study Committee
Education	Indiana University Bloomington (BA) Grace College and Seminary (MBA)
Children	3

James Edward Banks (born July 16, 1979) is an American politician and United States Navy Reserve officer who has served as the junior United States senator from Indiana since January 3, 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Banks previously represented Indiana's 3rd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 2017 to 2025 and served in the Indiana Senate from 2010 to 2016. Born and raised in Columbia City, Indiana, Banks built his political career in the northeastern part of the state, beginning with local government service on the Whitley County Council before ascending to state and then federal office. During his time in the Indiana Senate, he took a leave of absence to serve in Afghanistan as a member of the Navy Reserve, a deployment that shaped much of his subsequent focus on defense and veterans' affairs. As a member of the U.S. House, Banks chaired the Republican Study Committee, the largest conservative caucus in Congress, from 2021 to 2023. Following the decision of incumbent senator Mike Braun not to seek reelection, Banks won the 2024 Republican nomination unopposed and defeated Democratic nominee Valerie McCray in the general election to claim Indiana's Class I Senate seat.

Early Life

James Edward Banks was born on July 16, 1979, in Columbia City, the county seat of Whitley County in northeastern Indiana. He grew up in the community, which is situated approximately 20 miles west of Fort Wayne, the state's second-largest city. Columbia City and the surrounding Whitley County area are characterized by a largely rural, agricultural economy, and Banks's upbringing in this setting informed his later political focus on issues affecting rural and small-town communities across Indiana.

Banks entered public service at a young age, serving on the Whitley County Council, a local legislative body responsible for fiscal oversight of county government. This early experience in county-level governance provided Banks with a foundation in public budgeting and local policy issues before he sought higher office.

Education

Banks attended Indiana University Bloomington, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. He later pursued graduate studies at Grace College and Seminary, a private Christian institution located in Winona Lake, Indiana, where he earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Grace College is affiliated with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches and is located in Kosciusko County, within the congressional district Banks would later represent.

Career

Indiana State Senate (2010–2016)

In 2010, Banks was elected to the Indiana Senate, representing the 17th district, succeeding Gary P. Dillon. The 17th district encompassed portions of northeastern Indiana, including parts of Whitley County and surrounding areas. During his tenure in the state Senate, Banks was involved in several legislative efforts, including support for right-to-work legislation in Indiana. A national group advocated for Indiana to adopt a right-to-work law, and the measure became a significant political issue in the state during this period.

In 2012, while serving in the state Senate, Banks joined the United States Navy Reserve. He was assigned to the Navy Supply Corps, a branch responsible for logistics and supply chain management for the Navy. Banks's decision to join the military reserves while holding elected office placed him among a small number of state legislators who simultaneously served in the armed forces.

In 2014, Banks was called to active duty for a deployment to Afghanistan as part of the War in Afghanistan. His deployment required him to temporarily vacate his Indiana Senate seat. In an unusual arrangement, his wife, Amanda Banks, was appointed to fill the seat during his absence. Amanda Banks was sworn in as the new state senator in December 2014, holding the position while her husband served overseas.

Banks returned from his deployment in Afghanistan in April 2015 and resumed his duties in the Indiana Senate. He holds the rank of Lieutenant in the Navy Reserve and has continued his reserve service alongside his political career.

U.S. House of Representatives (2017–2025)

2016 Election

When incumbent congressman Marlin Stutzman announced he would leave his House seat to run for the U.S. Senate in 2015, Banks entered the race for Indiana's 3rd congressional district. The district, which covered a large swath of northeastern Indiana including Fort Wayne's surrounding communities, was considered a safe Republican seat.

Banks received the endorsement of the Club for Growth, a conservative political organization that supports candidates favoring limited government and free-market economic policies, in September 2015. Banks won the Republican primary, with his strong support in key counties proving decisive in his victory. He went on to win the general election in November 2016, succeeding Stutzman in the House.

Tenure in the House

Banks took office on January 3, 2017, and quickly established himself as a conservative voice in the House Republican conference. He was reelected in 2018, 2020, and 2022, each time winning by comfortable margins in the solidly Republican district.

During the 115th Congress, Banks was among the House Republicans who supported the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the major tax reform legislation championed by President Donald Trump. The bill passed the House in December 2017. His vote was consistent with the broader Indiana delegation's alignment with the party on the tax measure.

Banks held town hall meetings in his district during this period, engaging with constituents on a range of issues. At an April 2017 town hall, the crowd became heated as constituents voiced concerns about various policy issues, including healthcare. In August 2017, Banks held a town hall in Auburn, Indiana, where he discussed healthcare and defense policy.

Chair of the Republican Study Committee

In January 2021, Banks assumed the chairmanship of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), succeeding Mike Johnson in the role. The RSC is the largest caucus of conservative members in the House of Representatives and serves as an influential body in shaping Republican policy positions. As chair, Banks led the caucus during a period of significant political turbulence, including the aftermath of the January 6, 2021, Capitol breach and ongoing debates over fiscal policy, immigration, and defense spending.

During his tenure as RSC chair, Banks was a vocal advocate for conservative policy positions and worked to unify the Republican conference around a shared legislative agenda. He served in this capacity until January 3, 2023, when he was succeeded by Kevin Hern.

2020 Election Certification

On January 6, 2021, Banks was among the members of Congress who voted to object to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. The vote came after supporters of President Donald Trump breached the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to prevent the certification. Banks's vote to object was consistent with the position taken by a significant portion of the House Republican conference.

U.S. Senate (2025–present)

2024 Senate Campaign

After incumbent U.S. Senator Mike Braun announced that he would not seek reelection to the Senate and would instead run for Governor of Indiana, Banks declared his candidacy for Indiana's Class I Senate seat. Banks won the Republican nomination unopposed, reflecting his strong standing within the Indiana Republican Party. In the November 2024 general election, Banks defeated Democratic nominee Valerie McCray to win the Senate seat.

Senate Tenure

Banks was sworn in as the junior United States senator from Indiana on January 3, 2025, succeeding Braun. He serves alongside senior senator Todd Young, also a Republican.

In the Senate, Banks has focused on national security, defense, and economic issues. In November 2025, Banks co-introduced the bipartisan GAIN AI Act alongside Senators Elizabeth Warren, Tom Cotton, Chuck Schumer, Dave McCormick, and Chris Coons. The legislation was designed to maintain the United States' position as a global leader in the development of critical artificial intelligence chips, with backing from national security experts and industry leaders. The bill built upon an earlier Banks-Warren amendment and was introduced as Congress was finalizing the National Defense Authorization Act.

In September 2025, Banks partnered with Representative Warren Davidson to lead a bipartisan letter signed by 85 colleagues urging Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to eliminate regulatory burdens they argued were threatening small businesses. The effort reflected Banks's focus on reducing government regulation as an economic growth strategy.

In February 2026, Banks spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony for the American Center for Manufacturing and Innovation Industrial Hub at Crane, Indiana. The facility, backed by a $75 million award from the Department of Defense, was designed to serve as a national security industrial hub focused on munitions manufacturing and military readiness.

Also in February 2026, Banks called for a federal investigation into what he described as illegal trucking networks operating in Indiana, citing fatal accidents involving unlicensed operators. He discussed the issue publicly, including during an appearance on Fox News Sunday.

On foreign policy, Banks has taken hawkish positions, including warning Iran of consequences as the United States positioned aircraft carriers in the region amid ongoing tensions in early 2026.

Personal Life

Banks and his wife, Amanda Banks, have three children. The family resides in Indiana. Amanda Banks briefly served in the Indiana Senate in her husband's place during his 2014–2015 deployment to Afghanistan, an arrangement that drew both attention and commentary in Indiana political circles.

Banks has continued his service in the United States Navy Reserve alongside his political career. He holds the rank of Lieutenant and has been a member of the Navy Supply Corps since 2012. His deployment to Afghanistan during the War in Afghanistan has been a recurring element of his public biography and political identity, informing his positions on defense and veterans' issues.

Recognition

Banks's chairmanship of the Republican Study Committee from 2021 to 2023 placed him among the most influential conservatives in the House Republican conference during that period. The RSC chair position is considered a significant leadership role within the party, and Banks's selection for the post reflected his standing among House conservatives.

His endorsement by the Club for Growth during his initial 2016 congressional campaign signaled his alignment with fiscal conservative principles and helped establish his credentials among national conservative organizations.

Banks's co-sponsorship of bipartisan legislation, including the GAIN AI Act with senators from both parties, has demonstrated an ability to work across the aisle on issues related to national security and technology competitiveness.