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In 1970, Bankston challenged [[conservative]] [[U.S. Representative]] John Richard Rarick (1924-2009) for re-nomination to a third term in the  6th congressional district. A former state court judge, Rarick prevailed, 57,835 votes (58.9 percent) to Bankston's 40,450 (41.1 percent). Rarich was the unopposed in the [[general election]]<ref>''Louisiana Almanac, 2006.''</ref>​ but was ousted in the Democratic primary in 1974.

In 1970, Bankston challenged [[conservative]] [[U.S. Representative]] John Richard Rarick (1924-2009) for re-nomination to a third term in the  6th congressional district. A former state court judge, Rarick prevailed, 57,835 votes (58.9 percent) to Bankston's 40,450 (41.1 percent). Rarich was the unopposed in the [[general election]]<ref>''Louisiana Almanac, 2006.''</ref>​ but was ousted in the Democratic primary in 1974.

In the 1979 [[Governor|gubernatorial]] general election campaign, Bankston obtained a [[censure]] resolution against two failed Democratic candidates [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]] and Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., both of whom openly endorsed the successful Republican candidate, former Democrat David Treen. Bankston warned Mouton, then an outgoing [[Louisiana State Legislature|state senator]] from [[Lafayette]] and one generally considered to have been a liberal lawmaker, that "if he thinks he is going to get all those people who voted for him in the primary to vote for a Republican, I think he's looking through rose-colored glasses." Bankston questioned whether Treen had agreed to assist in the retirement of Mouton's campaign debts.<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 14, 1979, p. 1.</ref> Bankston blamed confusion over the certification of Democratic candidate [[Louis Lambert]] in part to the competition between the [[Associated Press]] and [[United Press International]] in attempting to be the first to report the ballot tabulations. The Democratic committee did not censure two other Democratic gubernatorial candidates who backed Treen, outgoing Secretary of State Paul Jude Hardy, later the first Republican to serve as lieutenant governor of Louisiana since [[Reconstruction]] and the then outgoing Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris]] because their support for Treen came after the committee had met.

In the 1979 [[Governor|gubernatorial]] general election campaign, Bankston obtained a [[censure]] resolution against two failed Democratic candidates [[E. L. "Bubba" Henry]] and Edgar G. "Sonny" Mouton, Jr., both of whom openly endorsed the successful Republican candidate, former Democrat David Treen. Bankston warned Mouton, then an outgoing state senator from [[Lafayette]] and one generally considered to have been a [[liberal]] lawmaker, that "if he thinks he is going to get all those people who voted for him in the primary to vote for a Republican, I think he's looking through rose-colored glasses." Bankston questioned whether Treen had agreed to assist in the retirement of Mouton's campaign debts.<ref>''[[Shreveport Journal]],'' November 14, 1979, p. 1.</ref> Bankston blamed confusion over the certification of Democratic candidate [[Louis Lambert]] in part to the competition between the [[Associated Press]] and [[United Press International]] in attempting to be the first to report the ballot tabulations. The Democratic committee did not censure two other Democratic gubernatorial candidates who backed Treen, outgoing Secretary of State Paul Jude Hardy, later the first Republican to serve as lieutenant governor of Louisiana since [[Reconstruction]] and the then outgoing Lieutenant Governor [[Jimmy Fitzmorris]] because their support for Treen came after the committee had met.

In 1982, Bankston was unseated, 56 to 44 percent, from the BESE board by his fellow Democrat, former State Representative Lillian Walker Walker (1923-2016), also of Baton Rouge.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 2, 1982.</ref>​

In 1982, Bankston was unseated, 56 to 44 percent, from the BESE board by his fellow Democrat, former State Representative Lillian Walker Walker (1923-2016), also of Baton Rouge.<ref>Louisiana Secretary of State, Election Returns, November 2, 1982.</ref>​

After going to Washington, Bankston said party officials contacted him and asked what they could do. Bankston said that he told them, "Nothing, you're too dad-blamed late."<ref name=sj/> Bankston said that Fitzmorris, Hardy, Henry, and Mouton "completely misjudged the wrath brought on by the party." Bankston predicted that future Louisiana Democrats eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] would not dare to endorse a Republican in a general election showdown.<ref name=sj/>​

After going to Washington, Bankston said party officials contacted him and asked what they could do. Bankston said that he told them, "Nothing, you're too dad-blamed late."<ref name=sj/> Bankston said that Fitzmorris, Hardy, Henry, and Mouton "completely misjudged the wrath brought on by the party." Bankston predicted that future Louisiana Democrats eliminated in the nonpartisan blanket [[primary]] would not dare to endorse a Republican in a general election showdown.<ref name=sj/>​

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==Civic affairs==​

==Personal life==

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In addition to BESE and LPB, Bankston served on the boards of the [[Boy Scouts]],  [[Salvation Army]], [[YMCA]], and the [[United Way]]. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the American Hospital Association and its state equivalent. He was a member of the trustees of the Broadmoor [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church in Baton Rouge.​

In addition to BESE and LPB, Bankston served on the boards of the [[Boy Scouts]],  [[Salvation Army]], [[YMCA]], and the [[United Way]]. He was a member of the Masonic lodge, the Sons of the American Revolution, and the American Hospital Association and its state equivalent. He was a member of the trustees of the Broadmoor [[Southern Baptist|Baptist]] Church in Baton Rouge.​

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Bankston was inducted in 2002 into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs. In 2007, he received the first annual "T. J. Jemison Race Relations Award" from the Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, named for the black minister and [[civil rights]] advocate, Theodore Judson "T. J." Jemison (1918-2013). Bankston was recognized for "working to bring people together regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religious backgrounds."<ref name=obit/>​

* 2002, Bankston was inducted into the [[Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame]] in Winnfield, the traditional home of the Longs.<ref>[http://www.cityofwinnfield.com/museum.html Winnfield, La - Old L&A Depot, LA Political Museum<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>​

* 2007, he received the first annual "T. J. Jemison Race Relations Award" from the Mount Zion First Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, named for the black minister and [[civil rights]] advocate Theodore Judson "T. J." Jemison (1918-2013). Bankston was recognized for "working to bring people together regardless of their race, ethnicity, or religious backgrounds."<ref name=obit/>​

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Bankston wrote a book about Earl Long and a memoir entitled ''Memories of a Country Boy,'' an account of his boyhood in Washington Parish.<ref name=obit/>​

Bankston wrote a book about Earl Long and a memoir entitled ''Memories of a Country Boy,'' an account of his boyhood in Washington Parish.<ref name=obit/>​

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Bankston's services were held on December 3, 2010, at Greenoaks Funeral Home Chapel in Baton Rouge. He is interred alongside his wife at Greenoaks Memorical Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62612923/jesse-homer-bankston|title=Jesse Homer Bankston, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref>​

Bankston died in Baton Rouge at the age of 103. His services were held on December 3, 2010, at Greenoaks Funeral Home Chapel in Baton Rouge. He is interred alongside his wife at Greenoaks Memorical Park.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/62612923/jesse-homer-bankston|title=Jesse Homer Bankston, Sr.|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=April 26, 2020}}</ref>​

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