Jackie Walorski | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's2nd district | |
| In office January 3, 2013 – August 3, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Joe Donnelly |
| Succeeded by | Rudy Yakym |
| Ranking Member of theHouse Ethics Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2021 – August 3, 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Kenny Marchant |
| Succeeded by | Michael Guest |
| Member of theIndiana 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 | (1963-08-17)August 17, 1963 South Bend, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | August 3, 2022(2022-08-03) (aged 58) Union Township, Indiana, U.S. |
| Resting place |
|
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Education | Liberty University Taylor University (BA) |
Jacqueline Renae Walorski (/wəˈlɔːrski/, August 17, 1963 – August 3, 2022) was an American politician who served as theU.S. representative forIndiana's 2nd congressional district from 2013 until her death in 2022. She was a member of theRepublican Party. Walorski served in theIndiana House of Representatives, representing Indiana's 21st district, from 2005 to 2010. In 2010, she won the Republican nomination for Indiana's 2nd congressional district, but narrowly lost thegeneral election toDemocratic incumbentJoe Donnelly. Walorski won the seat in 2012 after Donnelly vacated it torun for the U.S. Senate, and was reelected four times.
Born inSouth Bend, Indiana, on August 17, 1963,[1] Walorski grew up with her two older brothers in the city'sGilmer Park neighborhood. Her mother, Martha C. (née Martin), worked as a meat cutter at a local grocery store, and her father, Raymond B. Walorski, worked as a firefighter and owned an appliance store.[2][3] She had Polish and German ancestry.[4] As a child, she attended Hay Elementary School and graduated fromRiley High School in 1981.[2] She then attendedLiberty Baptist College from 1981 to 1983, and graduated fromTaylor University, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in communications and public administration in 1985.[5]
Walorski began her career as a television reporter forWSBT-TV, aCBS affiliate inSouth Bend, from 1985 to 1989, and was the executive director of theSt. Joseph County Humane Society from 1989 to 1991.[6] In 1991, she was appointed the director of institutional advancement atAncilla College, a position she held until she was appointed the director of membership at theSt. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce in 1996.[5] She later worked as the director of annual giving atIndiana University South Bend from 1997 to 1999.[4]
Walorski moved toRomania in 2000 and founded Impact International, a foundation to provide medical supplies and attention to impoverished children.[7] She did Christian missionary work in Romania before returning to the U.S. in 2004.[8]
In 2004, Walorski ran for a seat in theIndiana House of Representatives after incumbent Republican State RepresentativeRichard W. Mangus decided to retire. She ran in Indiana's 2nd District, which included the suburban area between South Bend andElkhart. Walorski defeated Democrat Carl H. Kaser, 64%–36%.[9] In 2006, she won a second term with 53% of the vote.[10] In 2008, she won a third term unopposed.[11]
During her tenure in the Indiana House, Walorski sponsored Indiana'sVoter ID law, requiring voters to present government-issued identification during in-person voting.[4] The voter ID law led to many lawsuits and was brought before theSupreme Court, where it was upheld inCrawford v. Marion County Election Board, and has been cited as helping the expansion of voter ID laws in other states.[12]
Walorski was criticized for missing a committee vote and the opportunity for stopping thedaylight saving time (DST) bill from passing out of committee, even though that bill died on the House floor.[13][14] After a different bill passed introducing DST, she authored and introduced a bill to rescind DST, a measure that ended up dying.[14]
Walorski authored legislation combating identity theft, including in 2006 when she sponsored a bill requiring companies to notify customers who are Indiana residents of any security breaches that could cause identity theft, identity deception, or fraud, making it a Class C felony and imposing a $50,000 fine on anyone who has the identities of over 100 persons.[15] "Identity theft is the most rapidly growing crime in the United States. We need to find a solution to this problem before it gets any bigger in Indiana", she said.[16]
Walorski became active in the caucus and was appointed Assistant Floor Leader. She served on the Family, Children, & Human Affairs and the Public Policy committees.[17]
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In 2009, Walorski announced her candidacy to challenge incumbentDemocratic U.S. RepresentativeJoe Donnelly inIndiana's 2nd congressional district, and she won the 2010Republican primary,[18] with 61% of the votes,[19] defeating Martin Dolan, Jack Jordan, and Tony Zirkle.[20] She lost 48%–47% in the general election.[21]
Within months of the general election, Walorski announced her plan to contest the seat again in 2012. During the Indiana legislature's 2011–2013 legislative session, the predominantly Republican Indiana House and Senate redrew Indiana's congressional districts. After redistricting, the newly drawn 2nd district included all ofElkhart County, Walorski's home county, and the demographics of the new district included more registered Republican voters.[22] Had the district existed with these lines in 2008,Barack Obama would have won it by just 0.3 percentage points, 49.6% toJohn McCain's 49.3%.[23] In contrast, he won the old 2nd with 54% of the vote.[24]
Donnelly decided not to seek reelection, opting instead to run for the U.S. Senate.[25] Walorski won the 2012 primary election with 73% of the vote, winning all ten counties in the 2nd District.[26][failed verification] In the general election, she facedLibertarian nominee Joe Ruiz ofMishawaka andDemocratic nominee Brendan Mullen ofGranger, anIraq War veteran.[citation needed] Walorski defeated Mullen 49%–48%,[27] likely helped by Republican presidential nomineeMitt Romney carrying her district with 56% of the vote.[28] At the same time, Donnelly was elected to the Senate.[29]
In 2014, while serving on theHouse Veterans Affairs Committee, Walorski was a leading voice pushing for the resignation ofEric Shinseki asSecretary of Veterans Affairs due to theVeterans Health Administration scandal of 2014.[30]
Walorski voted against thesecond impeachment of Donald Trump[31] andvoted to object to the certification of the2020 United States presidential election.[32][33]
In 2019, Walorski was named the ranking member on theHouse Ways and Means Subcommittee on Worker and Family Support.[34] In 2020, she was appointed to serve on theSelect Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis.[35] In 2021, she became the ranking member on theHouse Ethics Committee.[36]
Walorski won the uncontested 2022 Republican primary for the 2nd district.[37]
On May 25, 2018, Walorski introduced legislation to double the death gratuity the federal government pays to the families of service members killed on active duty. The legislation would have increased the death gratuity from $100,000 to $200,000. Under the bill, the government would have paid at least 60% of the benefit to the surviving spouse, and service members could have chosen how to disburse the remaining 40%. The bill also would have capped Congress members' death benefits at $74,000. The cap would have resulted in a payment of about $100,000 less than would be paid under the current system.[41]
Walorski voted to repeal theAffordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.[42]
Walorski advocated privatizingSocial Security. In March 2010, she said, "I think the one thing we have to do is the thing that Bush actually tried to do a couple years ago, which is privatize Social Security and allow people to invest in their own retirement."[43]
Walorski voted for theTax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.[44]
In 2018, Walorski said she opposed thefirst Trump tariffs on goods imported from U.S. allies. She said that such duties threaten U.S. businesses and workers. These include a 25% tariff on steel and a 10% tariff on aluminum. Walorski also asked that the system for granting exclusions for certain products be accelerated.[45]
In 2013, Walorski expressed support for a ban onlate-term abortions.[46]
In 2015, Walorski raised objections to thePain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill banninglate termination of pregnancy, an abortion procedure given beyond 20 weeks into a pregnancy. She had supported the 2013 version,[46][47] but removed her name from the 2015 House bill in mid-January. The 2015 bill had an exemption for those seeking an abortion due to rape, but required that the person seeking the exemption report the rape to the police past 20 weeks.[48] House Republicans canceled a planned vote shortly afterward due to opposition from Walorski and RepresentativeRenee Ellmers, and other Republicans expressing concerns about the bill.[49] A modified version of the bill was proposed in 2015, with modifications to remove the requirement to report a rape to the police. This version instead allowed abortions past 20 weeks in cases of rape, with the requirement that those pregnant due to rape would need to seek medical care or counseling before getting an abortion. Walorski voted for this version of the House bill in May.[50][51] Walorski would also go on to vote for the 2017 version of the bill.[52][53]
In October 2017, Walorski asked the Indiana State Department of Health to deny an application to open an abortion clinic in South Bend, saying the clinic would undermine efforts to reduce the number of abortions in the area.[54]
Walorski supported Trump's 2017executive order to impose a temporary ban on entry to the U.S. for citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries, saying she believed it would "allow our national security officials to examine the vetting process and strengthen safeguards to prevent terrorists from entering our homeland."[55]
In December 2020, Walorski was one of 126 Republican members of theHouse of Representatives to sign anamicus brief in support ofTexas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at theUnited States Supreme Court contesting the results of the2020 presidential election, in whichJoe Biden defeated Donald Trump.[56] The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lackedstanding underArticle III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[57][58][59]
In 1995, Walorski married Dean Swihart, a schoolteacher inMishawaka.[17] She resided inJamestown, an unincorporated suburban community west of Elkhart, and was a member of South Gate Church, anAssemblies of Godmegachurch in South Bend.[60]
On August 3, 2022, four people, including Walorski, were killed in ahead-on collision between two cars nearNappanee, Indiana.[61] Walorski was returning from aribbon-cutting ceremony inClaypool, Indiana.[62][63] The collision occurred onState Road 19 near the intersection withState Road 119 between Nappanee andWakarusa.[64][65][66] The driver of the other vehicle, aBuick LeSabre, and the two other people in Walorski's vehicle, aToyota RAV4, also died.
It was initially reported that a northbound vehicle on State Road 19 veered left and collided head-on with Walorski's vehicle, which was southbound; the police later retracted that statement and said that Walorski's northbound car, driven by her staffer, Zachery Potts, had crossed the center line for unknown reasons.[67][68] The investigation concluded the following month, with the Elkhart County Sheriff's Office finding that Potts was at fault for the crash, with evidence showing he was likely attempting toovertake aflatbed truck.[69][70]
House SpeakerNancy Pelosi ordered the flags around theU.S. Capitol Building to be flown athalf-staff on the day of death and the day after in her honor.[71] Transportation SecretaryPete Buttigieg, whose hometown ofSouth Bend is in Walorski's district, posted condolences on Twitter, saying that "she was always prepared to work together where there was common ground".[72] Former PresidentDonald Trump eulogized her on hisTruth Social platform, and PresidentJoe Biden issued a statement saying that she was "respected by members of both parties" and offering condolences to the victims' families.[71][73] On August 10, 2022, theIndiana congressional delegation introduced a bill to name theDepartment of Veteran Affairs Clinic in Mishawaka the Jackie Walorski VA Clinic.[62] The bill, H.R. 8656,[a] was signed into law September 30.[74]
Walorski's funeral was held on August 11 atGranger Community Church inGranger, Indiana, and she is buried at Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend.[75][70]
Jackie Walorski Memorial Highway
Marshall County
More than a month after her death, during a public conference, President Biden mistakenly called on Walorski and was looking for her in the audience, even though he had previously commented upon her death and attended a service for her.[76]
RepublicanRudy Yakym was chosen as Walorski's successor ina special election in November 2022.
Walorski was awarded the following foreign honor:
Commander of theOrder of the Star of Romania (June 8, 2017).[77][78]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski | 13,745 | 64% | |
| Democratic | Carl H. Kaser | 7,728 | 36% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski | 8,899 | 53% | ||
| Democratic | Robert Kovach | 7,980 | 47% | ||
| Turnout | 16,879 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski | 17,605 | 99% | ||
| N/A | Clyde James (Write-in) | 232 | 1% | ||
| Turnout | 17,837 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Joe Donnelly (incumbent) | 91,341 | 48% | ||
| Republican | Jackie Walorski | 88,803 | 47% | ||
| Libertarian | Mark Vogel | 9,447 | 5% | ||
| Turnout | 189,591 | 41% | |||
| Democratichold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski | 134,033 | 49% | ||
| Democratic | Brendan Mullen | 130,113 | 48% | ||
| Libertarian | Joe Ruiz | 9,326 | 3% | ||
| N/A | Kenneth R. Luntz, Jr. (Write-in) | 3 | 0% | ||
| Turnout | 273,475 | 56% | |||
| Republicangain fromDemocratic | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski (incumbent) | 85,119 | 59% | ||
| Democratic | Joe Bock | 55,331 | 38% | ||
| Libertarian | Jeff Petermann | 3,992 | 3% | ||
| Turnout | 144,442 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski (incumbent) | 164,355 | 59% | ||
| Democratic | Lynn Coleman | 102,401 | 37% | ||
| Libertarian | Ron Cenkush | 10,601 | 4% | ||
| Turnout | 277,357 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski (incumbent) | 125,499 | 55% | ||
| Democratic | Mel Hall | 103,363 | 45% | ||
| No party | Richard Wolf (Write-in) | 27 | 0% | ||
| Turnout | 228,889 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Jackie Walorski (incumbent) | 183,601 | 61.5 | ||
| Democratic | Pat Hackett | 114,967 | 38.5 | ||
| Turnout | 298,568 | ||||
| Republicanhold | Swing | ||||
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| Indiana House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of theIndiana House of Representatives from the 21st district 2005–2010 | Succeeded by |
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
| Preceded by | Member of theU.S. House of Representatives fromIndiana's 2nd congressional district 2013–2022 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
