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“We have a lot of politics in Indiana heading into the 2024 cycle,” said Representative Jim Banks and senate candidate.
Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb was first elected in 2016, taking his spot in the Indiana State House after former Governor Mike Pence left to take on Washington D.C. as Vice President during the Trump Administration. With his second term ending in January 2025, Governor Holcomb will not be on the ballot for re-election next November.
Current US Senator Mike Braun announced in December 2022 he would be running for governor, leaving an open spot for Indiana in the senate. For the first time in several Indiana elections, there is both an opening for Governor and a US Senate Seat for 2024. Several individuals have shared interest in running for Indiana Senate with the new vacancy, but Representative Jim Banks has formally announced his bid for the 2024 election on January 17, making him the only declared candidate.
For the last six years, Congressman Banks has been Indiana’s 3rd District Representative known for his allyship with former President Trump, his work in the Veteran and Education committees, and his conservative approach to legislation. Representative Banks shares with WFHB that he feels he is ready for leadership in the senate.
“I feel called to run for it,” said Banks. “My wife and I and our family, we’re very proud to serve in the house, but the senate seat offers an incredible opportunity to do more for our home state.”
Speculations have circled in discourse of what other Republican candidates will aim to take the vacancy. Former Indiana Governor and President of Purdue University Mitch Daniels was rumored to have interest in candidacy, which has since been denied by Daniels himself at the end of January. Talk of Governor Holcomb running for senate has also permeated, but he shared in a public appearance December of 2022, he was devoting his attention to the upcoming statehouse session, and would quote, “think about the future in the future.”
This seems to be similar within the democratic party of Indiana, who have yet to announce a candidate for the senate race. Blake Hesch, Director of Communications for the Democratic Party of Indiana, shares the party’s approach leading up to the election.
“Stakes are raised for a lot of races in 2024,” said Hesch. “We have a number of candidates that have already expressed their interest for the governor’s race and candidates who are interested in announcing probably sometime in the next couple of months.”
“This year in 2023, Democrats are going to see some great gains in certain communities where we’re running great mayoral candidates and great municipal candidates. That’s what we’ll be focusing on right now, and then gearing up for 2024 in the meantime. So basically, chewing gum and walking at the same time,” he said.
There has been a divide within the American GOP between politicians and voters leaning towards more traditional Republican values and legislation, and others who fall under the term coined as “Trumpism.” With Former President Trump announcing his run for re-election in 2024, future voting patterns of Republicans are unpredictable. The Democratic Party of Indiana feels that candidates who align with Trump won’t perform well.
“What we saw last year in 2022 is that if you were on the political fringe, if you were on the extreme and you aligned yourself with Donald Trump, quite often you did not do well,” said Hesch.
Although the Indiana Dems have yet to announce any candidates, they feel prepared with the issues they stand for.
“Focusing on those issues that everyday Hoosiers care about – the kitchen table issues – often what we call them, is what’s going to bring us success in our race,” said Hesch.
Within the next year, Hoosiers can expect Representative Jim Banks to be traveling around the state campaigning and getting signatures to ensure his name will be on the ballot in the Republican Primary May 2024.
“I’m excited about traveling the state making my case to voters that I’m best prepared to go to the United States Senate and fight for our values and for Hoosiers,” said Banks.
Among the individuals who have already endorsed Congressman Bank’s campaign include Florida Republican Mark Rubio and Former President Donald Trump.
Both Congressman Banks and Indiana Dem’s Blake Hesch encourage Hoosiers to get involved in democracy.
“Those campaigns will start building up, and after the November elections of this year, you’ll see a lot more where you can reach out and get involved,” said Hesch.
To register to vote visit in.gov to ensure you are ready when election day comes.
