{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Jake Banta | state_house = Pennsylvania | district = 4th | term_start = January 3, 2023 | term_end = | predecessor = Curt Sonney | successor = | birth_date = {{circa|1965}} | birth_place = Waterford, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Republican (2009-present) | other_party = Democratic (2004-2009)<ref name=consth /> | alma_mater = Fort LeBoeuf High School | website = [https://www.repbanta.com/ www.repbanta.com] | allegiance = <!--self-evident--> | branch = United States Navy | unit = SEALs }}
'''Jacob Daniel Banta'''<ref>{{cite web |title=2022 General Election Tuesday, November 8, 2022 Official Returns ERIE |url=https://www.electionreturns.pa.gov/General/CountyResults?countyName=ERIE&ElectionID=94&ElectionType=G&IsActive=1 |website=electionreturns.pa.gov |publisher=Pennsylvania Department of State |access-date=13 January 2023}}</ref> (born {{circa|1965}}<ref name=ge />) is an American politician and musician who currently represents the 4th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2023. He is a member of the Republican Party.
==Early life and career== Banta was born in Waterford, Pennsylvania,<ref name=bio /> and grew up on his family's farm in LeBoeuf Township, Pennsylvania.<ref name=consth /> Following graduation from Fort LeBoeuf High School in 1983, Banta enlisted in the United States Navy, ultimately becoming a Navy SEAL; he was honorably discharged. After the 9/11 attacks, Banta worked as a security contractor with the U.S. Department of Defense in the Middle East.<ref name=bio>{{cite web |title=About Jake |url=https://www.repbanta.com/about |website=PA State Rep. Jake Banta |publisher=PA House Republican Caucus |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref>
==Political career== In 2022, Banta ran to represent the 4th District in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, following the retirement of Curt Sonney. He won the six-person Republican primary election,<ref name=prim /> and went on to defeat Democrat Chelsea Oliver in the general election.<ref name=ge>{{cite news |last1=Myers |first1=Valerie |title=By a big margin, Banta wins 4th Dist. seat in state House: Unofficial election results |url=https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2022/11/09/pa-4th-district-results-chelsea-oliver-jake-banta-house-race-election-2022/69519085007/ |access-date=6 January 2023 |work=GoErie |date=November 9, 2022}}</ref>
For the 2025–2026 Session, Banta serves on the following committees:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jacob D. Banta |url=https://www.palegis.us/house/members/bio/1937/rep-banta |access-date=2025-07-18 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives}}</ref>
* Game & Fisheries * Local Government * State Government ** Subcommittee on Government Integrity & Transparency Republican Chair * Tourism, Recreation & Economic Development * Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness
==Political positions== ===Abortion=== Banta has described himself as "pro-life." He has previously said he does not support a ban on abortion, but has suggested he would be open to one which makes exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother.<ref name=consth />
===COVID-19=== Banta opposed public health mandates put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=prim /> After an airline employee took issue with the non-surgical mask he was wearing, Banta elected to no longer fly while the federal mandate was in place.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rink |first1=Matthew |title=4th District Republicans debate issues |url=https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/21/4th-district-republican-candidates-talk-mask-mandates-constitution/65350727007/ |access-date=19 June 2024 |work=Erie Times-News |date=April 21, 2024}}</ref> He has promoted using Ivermectin to treat COVID, despite there being no medical basis for the use of the drug in treating the disease.<ref name=consth /> According to Banta, he was let go as a military contractor over his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine and now regrets receiving other vaccinations that were required of him when joining the military.<ref name=consth /><ref name=prim>{{cite news |last1=Rao |first1=A.J. |title=Banta wins GOP nomination for PA 4th District House seat |url=https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/05/18/jake-banta-waterford-resident-wins-gop-nod-for-pa-4th-district-house-results/65353598007/ |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=GoErie |date=May 18, 2022}}</ref>
====COVID-related conspiracy theories==== Banta has spoken of a "plandemic" conspiracy and claimed COVID-19 was created by Bill Gates, Anthony Fauci, and China as part of a globalist plot to depopulate the world.<ref name=consth /><ref name=ge /> He also claims the COVID vaccine has killed more people than the virus itself. In a Gab post, Banta claimed COVID test swabs, masks, and COVID vaccines contain lethal amounts of graphene oxide.<ref name=consth />
===Election reforms=== Banta supports the overturning of Pennsylvania's mail-in voting law. He also supports voter ID and advocates for the presence of serial numbers on ballots.<ref name=consth />
===Promotion of conspiracy theories=== Banta has used several social media sites, including Facebook, Gab, and Truth Social, to promote conspiracy theories and falsehoods sourced from various far-right websites. Some of his online comments caused his Facebook account to be suspended. He also claims the FBI visited his home in response to his rhetoric, a claim which has gone unverified. Banta additionally administers a 5,300-member private Facebook paged titled "I am America." Several members have posted QAnon content on the page. Although Banta himself has not posted QAnon content, several of his posts have similar language to QAnon conspiracy theories.<ref name=consth />
Banta denies the result of the 2020 United States presidential election and claims it was stolen from President Donald Trump by Democrats.<ref name=ge /><ref name=consth /> He also claims that Pennsylvania State Representative Ryan Bizzarro won his 2020 election because of fraud. There is no evidence to support either claim. Banta has claimed that the January 6 Capitol attack was orchestrated by Trump's political opponents to sabotage his career. At the same time, he has voiced support for those who attacked the Capitol building, referring to them as "patriots."<ref name=consth />
Banta has promoted the New World Order conspiracy theory, alleging mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic, gun control, and "stolen" elections were part of a plot to establish a global Marxist state. The primary perpetrators of the New World Order, he claims, are the World Health Organization, World Economic Forum, and Democratic politicians, including President Joe Biden.<ref name=consth />
==Personal life== Banta is married to Shelly,<ref>{{cite web |title=Representative Jacob D. Banta |url=https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1937 |website=Pennsylvania House of Representatives |publisher=Pennsylvania General Assembly |access-date=6 January 2023}}</ref> and lives in LeBoeuf Township, Pennsylvania.<ref name=ge /> He has three children and two grandchildren.<ref name=bio />
Banta is the lead singer and guitarist in his band Jake's Blues.<ref name=consth>{{cite news |last1=Rink |first1=Matthew |title=Banta, fueled by discredited conspiracies, eyes Pa. House 4th District seat |url=https://www.goerie.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2022/10/17/pa-house-candidate-jake-banta-amplifies-election-covid-conspiracies-online/65361499007/ |access-date=25 February 2023 |work=GoErie |date=October 19, 2022}}</ref> His music is influence by Stevie Ray Vaughan and has recorded several of his own albums.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swanseger |first1=Matt |title=Jake's Blues Double Trouble at 8 Great Tuesdays and Schickalay's On The Bay |url=https://www.eriereader.com/article/jakes-blues-double-trouble-at-8-great-tuesdays-and-schickalays-on-the-bay |access-date=12 December 2025 |work=Erie Reader |date=August 3, 2016}}</ref> He previously recorded with the band Double Trouble.<ref name=consth /> Banta performed the national anthem at two rallies for President Donald Trump.<ref name=prim />
==Electoral history== {{Election box begin no change |title = 2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican primary election, District 4<ref>{{cite web |title=Election Summary Report Closed Primary Erie County May 17, 2022 |url=https://eriecountypa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ERIE-RESULTS-FINAL-OFFICIAL.pdf |website=Erie County, Pennsylvania |access-date=6 January 2023 |page=22 |date=June 3, 2022}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Jake Banta |votes = 3,702 |percentage = 41.98 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Jason Monn |votes = 2,321 |percentage = 26.32 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Greg Hayes |votes = 1,072 |percentage=12.15 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Joe Cancilla |votes = 773 |percentage=8.77 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (US) |candidate = Jennifer Lesher |votes = 732 |percentage=8.3 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = John D. Diamond |votes = 201 |percentage = 2.28 }}{{Election box write-in with party link no change |party = Write-in |votes = 18 |percentage = 0.2}} {{Election box total no change |votes = 8,819 |percentage = 100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title = 2022 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 4<ref>{{cite web |title=ERIE COUNTY NOVEMBER 8, 2022 GENERAL ELECTION OFFICIAL RESULTS |url=https://eriecountypa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Erie-County-Official-Results-2022-General-Election.pdf |website=Erie County, Pennsylvania |access-date=6 January 2023 |page=8 |date=December 8, 2022}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party = Republican Party (US) |candidate = Jake Banta |votes = 16,375 |percentage = 61.44}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party = Democratic Party (US) |candidate = Chelsea Oliver |votes = 10,276 |percentage = 38.56}} {{Election box total no change |votes = 26,651 |percentage = 100.00}}{{Election box end}}
{{Election box begin no change |title=2024 Pennsylvania House of Representatives election, District 4<ref>{{cite web |title=REPRESENTATIVE IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY - DISTRICT 4 |url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/PA/Erie/122589/web.345435/#/detail/12 |website=Erie County, PA 2024 General Election November 5, 2024 |access-date=26 November 2024 |date=November 22, 2024}}</ref> }}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change |party=Republican Party (US) |candidate=Jake Banta (incumbent) |votes=22,686 |percentage=67.54 }}{{Election box candidate with party link no change |party=Democratic Party (US) |candidate=Joe Cancilla |votes=10,845 |percentage=32.29 }}{{Election box write-in with party link no change |party=Write-in |votes=56|percentage=0.17}}{{Election box total no change|votes=33,587|percentage=100.00}}{{Election box end}}
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Pennsylvania House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Banta, Jake}} Category:Living people Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives Category:People from Waterford, Pennsylvania Category:Politicians from Erie County, Pennsylvania Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:United States Navy SEALs personnel Category:COVID-19 conspiracy theorists Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly