Jackie Walorski
Jacqueline R. Walorski (/wəˈlɔːrski/, August 17, 1963 – August 3, 2022) was an American politician. She was the U.S. representative for Indiana's 2nd congressional district from 2013 until her death in 2022. She was a member of the Republican Party. She was a member of the Indiana House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010.
Jackie Walorski | |
---|---|
Ranking Member of the House Ethics Committee | |
In office January 3, 2021 – August 3, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Kenny Marchant |
Succeeded by | Michael Guest |
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 2nd district | |
In office January 3, 2013 – August 3, 2022 | |
Preceded by | Joe Donnelly |
Succeeded by | Rudy Yakym |
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 21st district | |
In office January 5, 2005 – November 16, 2010 | |
Preceded by | Richard W. Mangus |
Succeeded by | Timothy Wesco |
Personal details | |
Born | Jacqueline R. Walorski August 17, 1963 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
Died | August 3, 2022 near Nappanee, Indiana, U.S. | (aged 58)
Resting place | Southlawn Cemetery, South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse(s) | Dean Swihart (m. 1995) |
Education | Liberty University Taylor University (BA) |
Early life
Walorski was born in South Bend, Indiana, on August 17, 1963.[1] She studied at Liberty University and at Taylor University. In 1995, she married Dean Swihart.
Walorski began her career as a television reporter in South Bend from 1985 to 1989. Walorski moved to Romania in 2000 to focus on charity work and Christian missionary work for children there.[2] She returned to the United States in 2004.[3]
State Representative
In 2004, Walorski ran for the Indiana House of Representatives. She ran for Indiana's 2nd District. Walorski beat Democrat Carl H. Kaser in a landslide victory with a 64% to 36% vote margin.[4] In 2006, she won a second term with 53% of the vote.[5] In 2008, she won a third term without anyone running against her.[6]
U.S. House of Representatives
In January 2009, Walorski announced her candidacy to run against Democratic U.S. Representative Joe Donnelly. She won the Republican primary in May 2010.[7][8] She lost the general election with a 48% to 47% vote margin.[9]
Donnelly decided not to run for reelection in the U.S. House, instead wanted to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012.[10] In May 2012, Walorski won the Republican nomination for the U.S. House seat.[11] Walorski would go on to win the general election with a 49% to 48% vote margin.[12][13]
In June 2017, she was honored with the Commander of the Order of the Star of Romania in Romania for her charity work there in the early 2000s.[14][15]
2020 election
Walorski voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump[16] and voted to not approve the certification of the 2020 United States presidential election.[17][18]
In December 2020, Walorski was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives who supported Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court.[19] This was an attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 United States presidential election, in which Joe Biden beat Donald Trump.[20]
Death
Walorski was killed in a car crash near Nappanee, Indiana on August 3, 2022 at the age of 58.[21] Three other people were killed in the accident including her communications director, Emma Thomson, and her district director, Zachery Potts.[22] The accident was caused when Walorski's car crashed with another car on State Road 19.[23] Her funeral was held on August 11 in Granger, Indiana and she was buried at Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend.[24][25][26]
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said flags would be at half-staff at the United States Capitol in her honor.[27] House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy,[27] Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg,[27] former Vice President Mike Pence,[27] former President Donald Trump,[27] and President Joe Biden released statements after her death honoring her.[28]