Rudy Yakym
Rudy Yakym, a Republican businessman who has represented Indiana's 2nd congressional district since winning a 2022 special election, seeks re-election in 2026 against Democrat Jamee Decio, an attorney.
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- Born
- February 24, 1984
- Birthplace
- South Bend, Indiana
- Education
- Indiana University South Bend (associate degree in business; Bachelor of Science in finance and business administration)
University of Notre Dame (Master of Business Administration, 2019)
Biography & Campaign Analysis
Background
Rudy Yakym was born in South Bend, Indiana, on February 24, 1984.
He earned an associate degree in business and a Bachelor of Science in finance and business administration from Indiana University South Bend, and in 2019 he completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Notre Dame.
Yakym married Sallyann Freet, a teacher at Elkhart Christian Academy, in 2006, and the couple have three children. He is a practicing Baptist and serves as head usher at New Life Baptist Church in Osceola, Indiana.
Career
Yakym worked in business and political fundraising roles before running for Congress. He was a sales manager for the broadband company Omnicity in 2010 and 2011, then served as finance director for Jackie Walorski's congressional campaign in 2011 and 2012.
From 2013 to 2019 he was a vice president at the Bradley Company, a commercial real estate business, and in 2019 he became director of growth initiatives at Kem Krest, a logistics and supply chain organization.
In 2015, then-Governor Mike Pence nominated him to the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission.
After Walorski died in a car accident in August 2022, Yakym sought the Republican nomination in the special election to succeed her.
The district's GOP precinct committee members chose him on the first ballot from a field of 12 candidates that included former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill and state representatives Curt Nisly and Christy Stutzman.
He then defeated Democrat Paul Steury and Libertarian William Henry with over 64% of the vote. Yakym serves on the Committee on Ways and Means and its subcommittees on Oversight, Social Security, and Work and Welfare.
2026 race
Rudy Yakym is seeking re-election in Indiana's 2nd district, which covers north central Indiana in the Michiana region, including South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart and Warsaw. He was re-elected with 62.7% of the vote in 2024 and was unopposed in the 2026 Republican primary, receiving 41,228 votes.
His Democratic opponent is Jamee Decio, an attorney who won the Democratic primary with 72.1% of the vote against middle school teacher Shaun Maeyens. The general election takes place on November 3, 2026.