This is super cringy. Watch Joe Biden asking if the recently deceased, Jackie Walorski was at the event. If you missed this story here’s a refresher.

Tragedy and Transition: Remembering U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski

Explore the unfortunate events surrounding the car crash that claimed the lives of U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski and her team. Witness the political aftermath as Rudy Yakym steps up to fill the void in Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District

The Fatal Car Crash and Its Political Impact

On August 3, 2022, tragedy struck as U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R) from Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, along with her communications director Emma Thomson and district director Zachery Potts, lost their lives in a fatal car crash in Elkhart County. The incident occurred while they were returning from a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Claypool, Indiana, for a soybean processing facility.

The collision also claimed the life of the other driver, 56-year-old Nappanee resident Edith Schmucker. The congresswoman was laid to rest at Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend, following a 15-mile funeral procession.

Rudy Yakym Steps Forward: Nominated to Succeed Jackie Walorski

In a somber turn of events, Rudy Yakym, Walorski’s former campaign finance director, was nominated on August 20, 2022, to succeed her and represent Indiana’s Republican Party in the 2nd Congressional District race in November. Endorsed by Walorski’s widower, Dean Swihart, Yakym faced both the general election and a special election to complete Walorski’s term. He competed against Democrat Paul Steury and Libertarian William Henry.

Investigating the Crash: Causes and Controversies

Despite the tragedy, life moved forward in the political arena. Walorski’s legacy was marked by her advocacy, including support for the opening of a VA clinic in 2017. However, the circumstances of her death raised questions, as investigations revealed that the crash’s cause was Potts driving left of center at an excessive speed.

President Joe Biden’s mention of Walorski during a speech on September 28, 2022, at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health stirred controversy. While Biden initially seemed to forget about her passing, the White House defended his lapse, emphasizing Walorski’s significant contributions in the field of hunger.

This tragic event reshaped the political landscape, leading to the nomination of a new candidate and leaving a void in the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana.