Freshman wishlist: Sen. Jim Banks plans to lead in the new GOP
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Newly elected Republican Sen. Jim Banks. Photo: Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) sees himself as part of the "new right" that's transforming Congress, and Vice President Vance as the party's future.
- "He's got four years to learn from the best president that we've had in modern times. And he'll be ready to go," Banks told Axios in an interview.
Why it matters: Banks doesn't tiptoe around President Trump. He's been solidly in line on tariffs, using the military to address immigration and backing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, whose confirmation drama Banks described as "disappointing."
- Banks, 45, has currency with Trump's orbit and deep experience from his House tenure.
- "I'm younger than most senators," Banks told us. "I want to be a leader in the new Republican Party and paving the way forward beyond — even beyond President Trump."
What he's saying: Banks said he has long believed in marrying "the party of Reagan with the party of Trump, traditional conservatism with populism."
- "The old-school Republican Party has quickly faded away," Banks said.
- Banks was ahead of the curve, writing a 2021 memo about needing to win over the working class.
- Now he's hoping the GOP capitalizes on their new working-class coalition moving forward. "Democrats are running scared," he said, pointing to Sen. Gary Peters' (D-Mich.) surprise retirement.
Zoom in: Banks, who voted for the 2017 Trump tax cuts as a House lawmaker, thinks it was a "big mistake" to "overemphasize corporate tax rates over tax cuts on families and small businesses."
- He wants Republicans to put more focus this time on helping working-class Americans.
Now in the Senate, Banks has already introduced four pieces of legislation.
- Two are border and immigration related. One would ensure qualified immunity for police, and another designates fentanyl as a chemical and biological weapon that can be used to sanction Chinese officials.
