Polls opened across Indiana's 2nd Congressional District at 6 a.m. Tuesday, giving voters in South Bend, Mishawaka, Elkhart, Goshen and Warsaw their say in a race that pitted Republican incumbent Rudy Yakym against Democrat Jamee Decio and Libertarian William Henry. Voting was scheduled to run until 6 p.m. local time, with anyone already in line by that cutoff still allowed to cast a ballot.
Yakym, a Republican congressman seeking a third term, faced Decio and Henry in a district that stretches across 11 counties in northern Indiana, according to WFYI. As the Chicago Tribune reported, votes in contested races were expected to be counted once polls closed statewide. It was Decio's first run for the seat, while Henry was making his third consecutive bid, per WSBT.
Affordability and Tariffs Dominated the Closing Weeks
In the campaign's final stretch, the candidates sparred over the economy and healthcare, according to WSBT's coverage. Decio pushed to roll back Trump-era tariffs and raise the minimum wage, telling WNDU, “Immediately eliminate the Trump tariffs,” and adding that “raising the minimum wage is very important.” Yakym countered by pointing to tax cuts and proposals to end taxes on tips and overtime, the same WNDU report noted.
Henry, meanwhile, argued for reduced government spending and warned that tariffs could backfire on local manufacturers. “Tariffs are not going to help manufacturing companies that have to order supplies and things from overseas,” he said, per WSBT's reporting. Decio said she held 18 public town halls across the district during her campaign, while Yakym said he spent several Saturdays knocking on doors, according to WNDU.
RV Industry and Data Centers Loomed Large for Voters
Beyond the candidates' talking points, voter feedback gathered by WFYI identified data-center policy, affordability and a broader sense of disempowerment as the issues most relevant to the district. The region's recreational vehicle industry has been a persistent undercurrent in local politics; WFYI reported that Elkhart County alone produces more than 80% of all RVs built in the United States, an industry that has swung between booms and layoffs in recent years.
The primary season offered an early read on enthusiasm within each party. Decio won 72.1% of the Democratic primary vote, with Shaun Michael Maeyens taking 27.9%, according to FOX59. Yakym ran unopposed on the Republican side in May, the outlet noted, cementing his spot as the GOP nominee without a primary fight.
A District With a Recent History of Lopsided Results
Yakym's past performance in the district has been strong. He won a second term in 2024 with nearly 63% of the vote, per WFYI's reporting, and Henry has placed third in both the 2022 and 2024 contests, trailing Yakym and the Democratic nominee each time. Those historical numbers formed the backdrop against which Tuesday's contest unfolded, though the outcome of this year's race was not yet known as polls remained open.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle confirmed that Election Day fell on Tuesday, with polls open statewide from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. Results were expected to begin coming in only after voting concluded across the district's 11 counties.
