Rudy Yakym

Rudy Yakym III is a Republican U.S. Representative representing Indiana's 2nd congressional district. A fourth-generation Hoosier, Yakym was born and raised in South Bend, Indiana. He earned an associate degree and a Bachelor of Science in finance and business administration from Indiana University South Bend before obtaining an Executive MBA from the University of Notre Dame in 2019. Before entering public office, Yakym held various roles in the private sector, including serving as a sales manager for a broadband company and as the Director of Growth Initiatives for Kem Krest, a logistics and supply chain organization. He also served as a vice president for the commercial real estate firm Bradley Company. Yakym’s political involvement prior to his election included serving as the finance director for the late Representative Jackie Walorski's 2012 campaign and being appointed to the Indiana Judicial Nominating Commission by then-Governor Mike Pence in 2015. Following the death of Representative Walorski in August 2022, Yakym was selected by the Republican Party to run for the remainder of her term and for a full term in the 118th Congress. He won the special and general elections on November 8, 2022, and assumed office on November 14, 2022. In Congress, he has served on the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

Rudy Yakym holds conservative positions focused on fiscal responsibility, economic growth, and border security. He is a proponent of tax-cutting measures, having been involved in crafting the tax portions of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill' and supporting the Working Families Tax Cuts. He advocates for pro-growth policies, including permanent tax incentives for research and development to benefit the manufacturing and medtech sectors. Yakym strongly opposes the creation of a government-issued central bank digital currency, citing concerns over government control of the economy. On immigration, he emphasizes securing the southern border, supporting the deportation of undocumented immigrants, and has criticized the current administration's border policies. He supported the Laken Riley Act and has called for more stringent enforcement of immigration laws. Additionally, he is a supporter of Second Amendment rights, having introduced legislation to end the ban on carrying firearms in federal park buildings. In the realm of infrastructure, he has focused on addressing the national air traffic controller shortage and streamlining the federal permitting process.