The Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that Rep. Jackie Walorski, 58, was killed in a two-vehicle crash that occurred just after noon in her home state of Indiana.
Walorski, a Republican, had represented Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, which includes South Bend and Elkhart since 2012.
The news of Walorski’s death, raised questions about what happens next in her district’s congressional race.
Walorski earned the Republican nomination in May and was slated to defend her congressional seat against Democratic challenger Paul Steury in November.
The Indiana governor’s office stated, “A vacancy that occurs, other than by resignation, in the United States House of Representatives shall be certified to the governor by the circuit court clerk of the county in which the Representative resided. A special election shall be held to fill a vacancy in the United States House of Representatives in accordance with IC 3-10-8.”
A date has not been determined for a possible special election at this time. However, it is possible that a special election could coincide with midterm voting, slated for Nov. 8.
That would leave voters with two things to decide when it comes to the 2nd Congressional District; who should serve out the remainder of Walorski’s term, which ends Jan. 3, 2023, and who should serve the following term, which begins that same day.
A spokesperson for the Republican Party of Indiana said, “At this time, the Indiana Republican Party is mourning the loss of friends and colleagues; our sole focus is on those lost and their families. Over the course of the coming days, we will work with the governor’s office and the Indiana Election Division to confirm the proper steps moving forward and will provide an update at a later date.”
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy confirmed the news of Walorski’s death in a tweet posted on Wednesday, in which he shared a statement from the congresswoman’s office.
“Dean Swihart, Jackie’s husband was just informed by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s office that Jackie was killed in a car accident this afternoon,” the statement read. “She has returned home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please keep her family in your thoughts and prayers.”
Walorski’s communications director, 28-year-old Emma Thomson, and the St. Joseph County Republican Party chair, 27-year-old Zachery Potts, were in the vehicle with the congresswoman at the time of the crash and also died as a result of their injuries.
Look at the Democrat challenger, he may be part of this supposed :Accident”, maybe he got the scum bag FBI invoolved, I’m csure staging accidents is in their cowardly wheelhouse.
I think the dem terrorists are picking off their opponents again. This is the only way they can win.