U.S. Representative Jim Banks (R-IN-03) on Tuesday endorsed best-selling author J.D. Vance in his quest to win the Republican nomination to represent Ohio in the U.S. Senate.
When describing the basis for the endorsement, Banks told Axios that Vance “isn’t afraid to stand up to the woke elites and will always put middle- and working-class Ohioans first.”
In the endorsement, Banks praised Vance for his stance against Big Tech, illegal immigration, gun control and Biden’s economic agenda. He also called him “a strong America First leader,” a nod to the legislative agenda popularized by former President Donald Trump.
Banks, who serves as the top official on the conservative Republican Study Committee, is Vance’s first high-profile endorsement.
The support from Banks rivals other notable supporters of frontrunners in the competition. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has endorsed Cleveland businessman and candidate Mike Gibbons. Further, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) has endorsed former Ohio treasurer Josh Mandel. And, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem (R) announced her support for former Ohio Republican Party Chairwoman Jane Timken
As his campaign continues to grow, Vance has continued to rise in statewide polls. According to a memo sent by Tony Fabrizio to a super PAC supporting Vance, the author has tripled his support in recent months.
“In that time, J.D. Vance’s share of the vote has doubled since our April survey and tripled since our June survey from 4% to 12%, putting him into 2nd place. Furthermore, Vance is now within a single-digit margin of Josh Mandel, who leads with only 21% of the vote. The support for all other current or potential candidates has remained flat and largely unchanged. Yet with nearly half of the GOP primary electorate still undecided, this race is wide-open and any candidate with the right message and resources to get that message out can win this election,” said Fabrizio, who also served as a pollster for former President Trump.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
