Republicans and Democrats react to the tragic death of Rep. Walorski in a car accident: “Just the worst news”

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle shared their condolences after the tragic deaths from Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Ind., her district director and her communications director.

Walorski, 58, and his employees, Communications Director Emma Thompson, 28, and District Manager Zachary Potts, 27, were killed in a head-on collision Wednesday in Elkhart County, Indiana.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share this statement from Congresswoman Jackie Walorski’s office,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., wrote on Twitter.

INDIANA GOP CONGRESSMAN JACKIE WALORSKI DIES IN CAR ACCIDENT

“Dean Swihart, Jackie’s husband, has just been notified by the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office that he was killed in a car accident this afternoon,” said the statement from Walorski’s office shared by McCarthy. “She has returned home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Please keep your family in your thoughts and prayers. We will have no further comment at this time.”

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., said he was devastated “to hear the horrible news of the death of Jackie Walorski and her two staffers.”

“She was a dear friend who loved serving the people of Indiana in Congress,” Scalise wrote. “My prayers are with her loving husband Dean, the rest of her family and the families of the two employees.”

Prominent Democrats also shared their condolences after the deaths of Walorski and his two staffers, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., who called news of the deaths “the worst news ever.”

“Only the worst news. Rest in peace Jackie, a classmate of 2012, and her loyal staff Zachary r[and] Emma,” Swalwell wrote. “Our office is praying for the families of Rep. Walorski, Zachary Potts, and Emma Thomson.”

“I am shocked and saddened to learn of the tragic death of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski,” wrote Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. “My thoughts and prayers are with his family and the other victims of this terrible accident.”

News of the deaths saw an outpouring of thoughts, prayers and condolences from Walorski’s colleagues in Congress and beyond, across the political spectrum.

Walorski has represented Indiana’s 2nd District since 2013 and was known as a bridge-building moderate.

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“On August 3, 2022 at approximately 12:32 p.m., the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office responded to a two-vehicle crash on SR 19 south of SR 119,” the office said from the sheriff on Fox News Digital.

“A northbound passenger car traveled left of center and collided head-on with a southbound sport utility vehicle. The three occupants of the southbound vehicle died from their injuries: Jackie Walorski, of 58, Elkhart, Ind. Zachery Potts, 27, Mishawaka, Ind. Emma Thomson, 28, Washington, D.C. The sole occupant of the northbound vehicle, Edith Schmucker, 56, Nappanee, Ind., was pronounced dead at the scene,” the office continued. “The Elkhart County Coroner’s Office and the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Office are conducting the investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.”

Fox News Digital’s Andrew Mark Miller contributed reporting.