Walorski re-elected to 2nd Congressional District

SOUTH BEND, Ind. --- Incumbent Jackie Walorski, R-2nd, defeated Democrat Pat Hackett (D) for Indiana's second congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. 

Jackie Walorski spoke with her supporters before the results were complete.

“I am confident enough by the numbers we’ve seen that we’ve just secured the seat of the Indiana second district. We’re going to  do exactly what we said we’re going to  do; we’re going to  defeat the coronavirus, we’re going to  build the economy again in this nation, where we were- even higher than before COVID and we’re going to  restore the American dream to every single person in the Indiana second district! Thank you! This is your seat! It doesn’t belong to me, it doesn’t belong to anybody, it belongs to everybody in the Indiana second district and I couldn’t be more grateful and honored to serve in this upcoming term,” Walorski said.

AP declared Walorski the winner around 11:15 p.m.

Jackie Walorski (R)

Jackie Walorski, born and raised in South Bend, is the daughter of Raymond and Martha who held careers as a firefighter, small business owner, and local meat cutter. A graduate of Riley High School, the congresswoman went on to receive her B.A. from Taylor University with a degree in communications and public administration. 

Her career stops include four years at WSBT-TV as a reporter and leadership positions at the St. Joseph Humane Society, Ancilla College, St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce, and Indiana University South Bend. 

In 2004, Walorski ran and won a seat in the Indiana House of Representatives where she won three terms. In 2012, Walorski was elected to Congress. Walorski currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee. 

Married to husband Dean, the couple previously spent four years in Romania as missionaries. While there they founded and ran a foundation to provide food and medical supplies to impoverished children there. 

Issues

Issues of interest include agriculture, defense & national security, economy & jobs, education, energy, fiscal responsibility, health care, and veterans. 

Agriculture - Walorski is dedicated to supporting legislation that helps Hoosier farmers flourish. She supported a five-year bill to provide farmers and producers with the flexibility and certainty they need to conduct business and plan for the future. Committed to reviewing current policies to make sure they do not hinder the growth of the agriculture industry or the safety of the American people. 

Defense & National Security - Committed to making sure the military has the tools and resources necessary to defeat any possible threat. Helped author bi-partisan law to combat military sexual assault. Committed to serving on behalf of servicemembers. 

Economy & Jobs -   She is working, as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee,  to reform the tax code and make it fairer and simpler for Hoosier small businesses and families. Believes small businesses are key to economic growth.   

Education - Believes every child in America should have access to a high-quality education regardless of the type of school the student attends. 

Energy - Opposes raising taxes on energy and fuel. Will support energy policies that put the needs of American families and small businesses first. 

Fiscal Responsibility - Supports pro-growth policies that offer economic opportunity and eliminates the regulatory and tax burdens that restrict job growth.

Health Care - Working to repeal the overly burdensome and job-killing health care law and replace it with reforms that will lower costs, increase choices, and put patients first.

Veterans - Has passed legislation to protect veterans from addictive painkillers and a bill to protect disabled veterans by updating mobility equipment standards. 

Pat Hackett (D)

Pat Hackett, born and raised in Dearborn Heights, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan. Her mother Barbara was a federal district court judge, and father Patrick was a prominent railroad attorney. She made her way to South Bend after earning both a bachelor's and master's degrees in theology from Notre Dame. 

She has made South Bend her home for 40 years serving northern Indiana as a teacher, attorney, and civic leader. After serving as an in-house counsel for the Holy Cross Health System/Trinity Health Corporation, Pat opened the law firm, Hackett & Associates in 2006. 

She works at Notre Dame Law School as an adjunct professor but has previously been an adjunct at St. Mary's College and a teacher at Marian High School. 

Hackett is a civic leader serving on boards such as the YWCA of St. Joseph County and the Community Foundation of St. Joseph County. She makes her home with her spouse, Rita, in South Bend. 

Issues

Issues of interest include racial injustice, women's equality, LGBTQ Rights, Immigration, Gun Safety, Education, Environment, Rural America, Workers Rights, Health Care, and Saving Democracy. 

Racial Injustice - Will support federal policies that seek to end the deeply rooted racial inequities within the country. Supports the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act 2020.

Women's Equality - All women allowed to make their own decisions regarding their body and supports access to high-quality health care, and want to ensure dignity and justice for all women. 

LGBTQ Rights - Supports that sexual orientation and gender identity are integral aspects of ourselves and should not lead to discrimination or violence. Supports policies and laws that will protect every citizen's dignity. 

Immigration - Providing undocumented immigrants with a pathway to citizenship to enhance their role as consumers and taxpayers, boosting the economy. Dream Act needs to be enacted without condition. Does not support a wall or religious litmus test banning. 

Gun Safety - Supports common sense gun laws to protect the rights of responsible gun owners, while preventing tragic and unnecessary deaths.  

Education - Wants to strengthen public schools, incentivize good teachers, emphasize student creativity, and critical thinking skills. Believes all children, regardless of incomes, deserve access to a high-quality education.

Environment - Supports policies that invest in good jobs, clean energy, and modern infrastructure to meet the demands of the clean energy economy.  

Rural America - Supports policies that will protect and revitalize rural communities. 

Workers Rights - Supports policies that promote strength in organized labor. Wants to increase wages to make the American Dream accessible for all. 

Health Care - Supports universal health care coverage and believes a Medicare for All system is needed to ensure everyone has access to good health services. 

Saving Democracy - Supports a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United and restrict the corrupting influence of money in politics.