Elect This

Ben Bankas built his brand on the kind of aggressive, anti-woke stand-up that thrives on pushing audiences to see who flinches first. His approach is designed for crowds who think modern culture has become entirely too sensitive. His routine relies on a blunt, provocative style that leans heavily into geopolitical controversy and social taboos.

Recorded on September 20, 2024, at The Royal Theatre in Toronto, Canada, Elect This caught Bankas at a transitional point in his career. The Toronto-native comic had recently relocated to Austin, Texas, to grow his U.S. footprint, and this homecoming set gave him a chance to target the political landscapes of both countries. Running just under 40 minutes, the special targets hot-button topics like the North American border crisis, transgender military service, and the Israel-Palestine protests. He finds particular mileage in highlighting the irony of pro-Palestine activists immediately seeking out Jewish defense lawyers after getting arrested.

His reputation was forged during the pandemic, when his anti-lockdown stance and mockery of political correctness earned him a polarized reputation in Canada. This set doubles down on that legacy, offering a mixture of crowd work, relationship complaints, and broad racial stereotypes designed to play to his core digital fanbase.