FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In a candid interview with WOWO’s Morning News, U.S. Sen. Jim Banks called on Indiana Republicans to confront the disappointing turnout that followed last week’s midterm elections and to begin a concerted rebuilding effort.
Low Turnout Spurs Call for Action
Banks warned that “Democrats showed up at historically high levels, and Republicans, our Republican voters, showed up at historically low levels.” He highlighted Allen County as a micro‑cosm of the broader problem, noting that the GOP fell short of the numbers needed to win.
During the interview, Banks explained that the Senate Republican conference had debated whether to delay its leadership vote to allow more time for discussion. While 15 senators voted to postpone the vote, 31 voted to move forward, and the leadership team was ultimately re‑elected.
Rebuilding Tour Across Indiana
To address the shortfall, Banks announced a statewide “Republican rebuilding tour” that will kick off Saturday in Bloomington. The tour will take him to county party chairs and local Republican leaders, giving him a chance to listen to concerns and outline a plan to motivate voters for the 2028 presidential, gubernatorial, Senate and congressional races.
“When I am home, I’m going to be traveling and talking to Republicans around the state about how we pick up the pieces and rebuild our party and inspire Republicans to vote,” Banks said.
Alignment With the Trump Administration
Banks also stressed that Senate Republicans intend to stay in Washington during the post‑election session to advance President Donald Trump’s agenda. He said the GOP will push forward confirmations of judicial nominees and other administration appointments before Democrats regain control of the Senate.
He praised Rep. Jim Jordan’s election as House minority leader, describing Jordan as “a strong messenger for the Republican Party and the type of leader Republicans need in the minority.”
Veterans Day Message
The interview aired on Veterans Day, and Banks took the opportunity to thank veterans, emphasizing that honoring past service helps inspire future generations. “We honor the veterans of the past, because we want to inspire the veterans of the future,” he said.
Banks’ rebuilding tour aims to re‑energize the Indiana GOP base, address the turnout gap, and position the party for a stronger showing in the 2028 election cycle.
Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.
