meet travis hankins

I’m Travis Hankins, and I’m running for Indiana State Senate to represent you and your family at the Indianapolis Statehouse.

I’m a proud Hoosier and grateful to call Fishers, Indiana home. My heart is to serve the great citizens of Geist, North Lawrence and Fishers, and to ensure our community remains the best place in Indiana, and the country, to raise a family.

I’m a Christian, a Conservative, and a Republican, but most importantly, I’m a Husband, Dad, and Community Member who believes leadership means standing up for the people and doing what is right, every single time.

Family and Community

I’m 44 years old and have been married to my wife Shing for 8 years. We are blessed with two sons, Ocean (7) and Noah (6), and we are excited to welcome a baby girl soon. We chose Fishers because we wanted to raise our kids around other young families, strong schools, and safe neighborhoods. After living and traveling all over the world, I can say with confidence, there is no better place to live than Fishers, Indiana. I will work tirelessly to keep it that way. I’m a proud supporter of our community and you’ll often find me coaching my son’s Mudsock Basketball Team or cheering on our local Fishers, HSE, and Lawrence North athletes.

My Story

I was born in Columbus, Indiana in 1981 and grew up playing basketball and soccer. I attended Indiana University in Bloomington, where I was a Groups Scholar and President of Chi Alpha Epsilon, graduating in 2004 with a background in Business and Education. During my senior year at IU, God saved me and I became a born-again Christian when I was 21 years old. After college, I attended Kanakuk Institute, a Christian leadership and Bible program affiliated with pastors and professors from Dallas Theological Seminary, where I was trained in Servant Leadership.

Leadership and Public Service

In 2005, I moved to Washington, D.C. and worked for the Leadership Institute, helping start conservative organizations on college campuses in Indiana and across the country. That experience showed me how hungry young people are for leadership, responsibility, and purpose. When I was 26 years old, I ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 9th District against Congressman Baron Hill. Former Congressman Mike Sodrel and Todd Young ran against me in the 2010 Republican Primary. I beat Congressman Mike Sodrel but I lost to Todd Young by 1% of the vote. In 2012, I ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 6th District. Once again, I came in 2nd place. During the course of 4 years running for Congress, I gained over 40,000 votes and raised over $400,000 dollars.

Life Experience Beyond Politics

After stepping away from politics, I focused on building a family and a career. In 2020, I transitioned into the technology and fintech industry, working in San Francisco and gaining real-world experience outside government. In 2024, my family and I returned home to Fishers, where we now live near Geist Lake. Coming back reinforced what I already knew, Indiana is Home, and this community is worth fighting for.

Why I’m Running

I’m running for State Senate because I believe our district deserves Conservative Leadership rooted in Faith, Family and Freedom. This campaign isn’t about titles or politics, it’s about Serving our Community, protecting our values, and ensuring Indiana remains a place where families can thrive for generations to come.