Biography

Jim Banks, born on July 16, 1979, in Columbia City, Indiana, is a Republican politician serving as the junior United States Senator from Indiana since January 3, 2025. He succeeded Senator Mike Braun, who vacated the seat to run for governor. Prior to his Senate tenure, Banks represented Indiana's 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2017 to 2025 and served in the Indiana State Senate from 2010 to 2016. A veteran of the U.S. Navy Reserve, Banks was deployed to Afghanistan during Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel. He is married to Amanda Banks, and they have three daughters: Lillian, Elizabeth, and Joann.

Education

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Indiana University Bloomington
• Master of Business Administration from Grace College & Seminary

Political Experience

• Indiana State Senate : Chaired the Senate Veterans Affairs and the Military Committee. Took a leave of absence in 2014–2015 for military deployment to Afghanistan.
• U.S. House of Representatives : Represented Indiana's 3rd Congressional District. Served on the House Armed Services Committee, the Committee on Education and the Workforce, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, and the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party. Chaired the Republican Study Committee during the 117th Congress.
• U.S. Senate : Elected in 2024, succeeding Senator Mike Braun. Serves as Vice Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee .

Notable Achievements

• Military Service: Served in the U.S. Navy Reserve as a Supply Corps officer; deployed to Afghanistan during Operations Enduring Freedom and Freedom’s Sentinel.
• Legislative Leadership: As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee, led efforts to produce a budget proposal aiming to balance the federal budget within five years.
• Election Integrity: Introduced the Save Democracy Act to implement reforms in the U.S. election system, emphasizing voter ID and fair poll watching.
• National Defense: Appointed to the House Select Committee on China in 2023, focusing on national security threats posed by the Chinese Communist Party.
• Pro-Life Advocacy: Celebrated the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022 and continues to advocate for pro-life policies.

Senator Banks continues to focus on national security, fiscal responsibility, and conservative values in his legislative efforts.