North central Indiana voters in the state's 2nd Congressional District will choose between three candidates this November to represent them at the national level.
Republican incumbent U.S. Rep. Rudy Yakym seeks a third term. He's challenged by Democrat Jamee Decio and Libertarian William Henry.
The district borders Michigan and stretches across 11 counties and includes South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Goshen and Warsaw. Its population is more than 750,000.
U.S. House members serve two-year terms, write and vote on federal legislation, sit on committees and direct federal resources to their districts.
WFYI opened an ongoing voter survey in May, and the most common issues voters reported that are relevant to this district were data center policy, affordability and feeling disempowered.
Indiana's 2nd District leans solidly Republican. The Cook Political Report most recently rated it R+13, and Yakym won a second term in 2024 with nearly 63% of the vote.
Neither Decio nor Henry has previously held elected office. Henry has run for the seat previously, placing third behind Yakym and the Democratic nominee in 2022 and 2024.
Elkhart County produces more than 80% of all recreational vehicles built in the U.S. The industry swung between boom and layoffs in recent years as it faced challenges, including interest-rate hikes and new tariffs. Decio and Henry each pointed to that instability as a reason voters should pick someone other than the incumbent.
The race comes less than a year after state lawmakers in Indiana voted down a push from President Donald Trump to redraw the congressional districts to favor Republicans in the midterms. Yakym supported the mid-cycle redistricting effort.
The regular 10-year Indiana redistricting cycle follows the census and is scheduled for 2031.
WFYI contacted each campaign to conduct candidate interviews. We used voter feedback to guide our questions: It asked candidates for their top priorities and their positions on Elkhart County's RV industry, affordability and civic health. For candidates who did not respond, information was gathered from websites and social media for a "Top priorities" note. Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Jamee Decio
Personal information provided by candidate.
Party: Democrat
Website: decioforcongress.com
Age: Not verified
Occupation: Indiana lawyer, not presently practicing
Residence: South Bend
Notable donors: Decio's committee, James Decio Congressional Campaign Committee, raised $355,589 as of June 30, 2026, including $200,000 in personal loans she made to her own campaign, according to Federal Election Commission data. There is no donor information for Decio in a search on OpenSecrets.
Decio accepted WFYI's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.
If elected, what are your top policy priorities?
Addressing the rising cost of living, healthcare, AI Data Centers, the war with Iran, corruption in the administration, and immigration, which includes repealing and replacing ICE. Our core value remains "justice and liberty for all." As a former prosecutor, I want to see justice for those who were murdered by ICE and those who have covered up said murders. We need to put people first, not the president and his racist and divisive priorities. Our diversity makes us the envy of the world. People seek to immigrate here because of our freedoms, rights and opportunity. We are all children of immigrants. Undocumented workers contribute over $90 billion which includes federal, state and local taxes. They also contribute, but are ineligible to receive social security ($25 + billion) Medicare ($6 billion) and unemployment insurance (approximately $1.8 billion). With the administration's reckless spending, which grows the deficit, we need their contributions. To grow our economy in Indiana, we need more workers, not less, which includes farmers, small businesses and corporations.
Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs?
Affordability is my most important priority. On day one, I will sponsor a bill to eliminate tariffs, raise the minimum wage to a living wage, tax billionaires, and reinstate Medicaid for those who were cut off by my opponent who wants the elderly and the disabled be required to work. I would also introduce healthcare for all Americans. Seventy-eight countries have some form of healthcare. As the wealthiest nation on earth, our health needs must come before a ballroom, an arch and all the other selfish needs of the president and enabling Republican Congress. Healthcare needs to be a right. The present president's agenda has not grown the economy, but has lined his pockets and those of the Republican Congress. We need to put this nation on a new trajectory where the middle class can once again realize the American dream with strict laws to prevent a future president from dismantling our way of life. Our democracy remains fragile. This year's mid-term is an opportunity for Americans to make a stand by voting for our democracy instead of Trump's "me me me" Republican Party. I once admired the Republican Party who fought for the rule of law during Watergate.* Unfortunately, that party has disappeared. I am hopeful it will return. Until then, we as Americans, need to protect our nation by voting for candidates who will address the needs of the people.
*Editor's note: The nature of the Republican Party's response to the Watergate scandal is complicated, and still contested. This 2018 opinion piece, which argues the party stuck by Nixon to the end, was co-written by the man who served as counsel for the House Judiciary Committee during its impeachment inquiry of President Nixon.
Many voters told us they don't think today's politicians listen to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and how would you address the concern?
If a representative refuses to hold town halls, do not vote for him or her. Your representative's duty is to listen to their constituents and to bring your concerns to D.C. Too many focus on special interests, taking PAC money, and contributions from corporations, who have no vote in federal elections. My contributions come from citizens. I have participated in 7 town halls with more to come. Members of Congress need to listen to their constituents' concerns and a town hall is the best way to learn what those needs are. Representatives work for their constituents who pay their salary. Frankly, town halls resemble a job interview. Candidates need to come prepared on dozens of issues so the voters can make an informed decision. I intend to serve the people, not the president or special interests. I will also represent businesses in my district to prevent them from being strangled by tariffs. I have taken an oath to the Constitution three times. I know my duty is to the constituents of the 2nd District. Any candidate who does not hold a town hall can only be ill-formed, lacking in empathy toward his/her constituents, and is a coward. If a candidate can answer a tough question, and deflects and avoids it, don't vote for him. FYI, I intend to hold town halls when elected as well.
Elkhart County produces the vast majority of the RVs built in North America, and that industry has swung sharply between boom and bust in recent years, with layoffs following interest-rate hikes and demand drops. What would you do in Congress to help workers and communities absorb that kind of cyclical shock?
The RV business presently struggles with the president's 50% tariffs, and his war of choice, which has resulted in higher gas and diesel prices. Our present congressman, who purports to represent the RV business, has grossly failed them by his inability to stand up to the president. He mistakenly believes he works for the president, not his donors. Yet he takes their campaign checks, and they continues to write them. Why give a man donations when he did nothing to halt tariffs last year or the manmade war with Iran. His job is to stand up for his constituents. He does this by convincing the president that tariffs hamper business, as will an unnecessary war. Clearly he didn't address the issue with the president or he would have posted something. Since he's still in good favor with the president, he did nothing. Members of Congress do not get paid to do nothing. He not only lacks a backbone, but also any knowledge of recent history. My father was in the RV business for decades. Forty-seven years ago the oil crisis with Iran gravely affected the industry. It took two long years to return. I read history and law, necessities for the office. The present congressman's lack of knowledge put the RV industry in a dangerous position today. I'm concerned. The war will continue unless the president caves, which his fragile ego won't allow. Second, the industry needs to realize that their representative's actions proves he doesn't care about them. I do. I suggest they call me.
William Henry
Personal information provided by candidate.
Party: Libertarian
Website: williamhenry.us
Age: 45
Occupation: Independent advocate and communicator
Residence: Elkhart
Notable donors: There is no campaign committee for Henry in a search of the Federal Election Commission website. A filing is not required if the candidate raises or spends less than $5,000 in contributions or expenditures. There is also no donor information for Henry in a search on OpenSecrets.
Henry accepted WFYI's invitation to take a survey. WFYI fact checked statements about publicly available data.
If elected, what are your top policy priorities?
Federal Financial Stability —
- Reduce taxes and reform tax law
- Eliminate wasteful foreign conflict budget spending
- Reduce federal agency budgets and personnel
- Eliminate fraud, waste and abuse
- Promote U.S. business growth and trade
- Reduce suppressive regulatory hurdles for businesses
- Protect local government rights regarding domain i.e. data centers, flock cameras
National Defense and Veterans Care —
- Strong National Defense for our protection and emergencies
- Support "Defend the Guard" legislation
- Border policy and protections improvements
- Eliminate Red Flag and Warrantless Surveillance laws
- Reduce and end foreign conflict and costly overseas contingency operations and contracts
- Expand community healthcare programs for veterans, and better integrate records, billing, and coding for community healthcare access
Medical Freedom —
- Define and resolve personal sovereignty, or self-ownership
- Regain individual medical and personal decisions
- Demand independent review of the vaccine approval and access to all research data
- Remove legal protections for vaccines
- Further protect privacy of patients
- End federal cannabis prohibition and expunge all federal cannabis records
Many voters told us they struggle to afford food, housing and healthcare. If elected, how would you help them address those needs?
First and foremost, we need to end our global wars and trade conflicts and instead attack our more than $40 trillion in national debt and associated interest. Congress has not passed a balanced budget in more than 25 years. This deficit is so large, it will take decades to correct. Our children's children will be born into more unbelievable debt unless we act now.
The current state of our national finances, energy resources, and our military extensions overseas are national security threats.
The people sitting in offices in Congress right now will deny this and are, in fact, the ones who led our country to this point. Those who led us here will not lead us out. They have wrecked our economy, and their hands need to be taken off the wheel.
The Federal Reserve has not stopped printing money and is inflating all our services, fuel, goods, and foods. This in-turn allows the price on everything we purchase to increase, and the government revenues to surge, yielding sizable percentages of inflated sales.*
The budget deficit mixed with inflation has reduced our dollar dramatically. We see the effect reflected in the price of services, goods, fuels, foods, housing, and healthcare. Our small and medium-sized businesses have taken a beating over the last decade, especially during the shutdowns and mandates.
Reducing bureaucracy hurdles for small businesses will improve our economy. Simply stopping the insane and unsustainable economic activities will help us reverse course.
*Editor's note: The United States Federal reserve does not physically print money, but its impact on the money supply and that figure's larger impact on inflation and pricing is incredibly complicated. You can find one piece of research into those dynamics right here.
Many voters told us they don't think today's politicians listen to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and how would you address the concern?
The feeling of being unheard is typical because complacent behavior is becoming more systemic by our representatives at all levels of government. As a researcher, advocate, and as a public candidate, I understand the frustrations.
In my congressional district we are represented by Rep. Rudy Yakym, who has refused to show up to public events or simply speak with the public, but still managed to win his elections.
In the last two regular term elections, 2022 and 2024, I ran against Yakym. Both years Yakym refused offers to participate with candidates in public televised debates and did not attend one public forum alongside other candidates. He appeared in closed meetings, in mainly private locations with big corporate donors and special interest groups, and limited news interviews.
For many years I have been working directly with the government, farmers, and laboratories regarding hemp nutritional studies. The USDA Food Data Central officially refused to study hemp nutrition. I filed a FOIA requesting SOPs and internal study policies with Food First Initiative 501c3, (www.FoodFirst.us), and conducted the first-ever comprehensive nutritional study of organic raw hemp biomass, i.e. flowers, leaves, and seeds.*
Despite directing this important work and reaching out to his offices personally, our research has been purposely conflated with illegal activities by Rep. Yakym,** and the nutritional data has been ignored on the subject by his offices. I truly understand the concerns.
*Editor's note: The 2025 Hemp Basic Nutritional Study Henry is referencing can be found right here. There have been prior nutritional studies on hemp nutrition, including this 2022 study from Oregon State University, which claims it is "one of the first scientific reports on feeding spent hemp biomass to livestock."
**Editor's note: WFYI was unable to find a record of Rep. Yakym making these remarks.
Elkhart County produces the vast majority of the RVs built in North America, and that industry has swung sharply between boom and bust in recent years, with layoffs following interest-rate hikes and demand drops. What would you do in Congress to help workers and communities absorb that kind of cyclical shock?
First, we need to reduce the federal regulatory and tax burdens that make it more expensive to employ people and operate a business. When companies are healthy, they should be able to invest, expand, and build reserves rather than spending resources navigating unnecessary bureaucracy and excess regulations.
Second, we need to make it easier for workers who have developed skills in manufacturing like welding, electrical, machining, fabrication, logistics, engineering, and assembly to take those skills, or to cross-train into other industries or labor partnerships. I support expanding access to practical, employer-driven training through community colleges, apprenticeship programs, and partnerships with local manufacturers.
Finally, we should encourage economic diversification. Elkhart County has an incredible manufacturing workforce and supply chain. We should be attracting additional industries that can utilize those same skills and suppliers—so when RV production slows, the entire local economy doesn't slow with it, maybe they can transition. We must allow and encourage those workplaces to be proactive and independent minded when it comes to business.
I don't want Washington D.C. to decide which Elkhart County or surrounding companies survive an economic downturn. I want Washington to stop interfering with the free market and making it harder for Elkhart County businesses and workers to adapt to market fluctuations.
Rudy Yakym
Candidate did not provide personal information or accept WFYI's invitation to take a survey.
Incumbent
Party: Republican
Website: rudyforindiana.com
Age: Not verified
Occupation: U.S. Representative, District 2
Residence: Granger
Notable donors: Yakym's committee, Rudy for Indiana, raised $5,246,030 as of June 30, 2026, according to Federal Election Commission data. OpenSecrets' data shows the campaign raised $1,306,552 from PACs. The two largest special interest donors are American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) and investment firm KKR & Co.
Top priorities: On his website, Yakym's priorities include shrinking the bloated federal bureaucracy, restoring fiscal responsibility, and ensuring veterans receive the care and benefits they have earned.
