Republican Rep. Jim Banks has emerged victorious in the Indiana Senate race, defeating Democrat Valerie McCray. Banks, a navy veteran with experience serving in Afghanistan, secured the win after a closely watched campaign.
Banks, who was first elected to Congress in 2016, received a significant boost from former President Donald Trump, who endorsed his candidacy. Known for his strong support of Trump, Banks was nominated to serve on the House select committee investigating the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. However, his nomination was rejected by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi due to Banks' objections to the certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
On the other side, McCray, a psychologist, made history by becoming the first Black woman to win a party nomination to represent Indiana in the Senate. Her campaign focused on advocating for reproductive rights, addressing student loan debt, and pushing for universal healthcare.
The Senate seat became vacant when Republican Sen. Mike Braun announced his decision to enter the gubernatorial race, aiming to succeed term-limited GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb.
