Rudy Yakym

Jamee Decio has been declared the presumptive winner of the Democratic primary in Indiana's 2nd District congressional race.

Decio, an attorney, appeared to have defeated 8th-grade social studies teacher Shaun Michael Maeyens with partial unofficial results tallied.

As of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, Decio led Maeyens 13,108-5,600, representing a 70%-30% margin, according to reporting from IndyStar.

Decio will face Republican Rudy Yakym, who is seeking his third full term.

On Wednesday, her campaign manager, John Peloquin, told The Tribune that Decio is "really excited to start the work of winning the general election."

"To her, it's really just a culmination of all the hard work she's put in over the past year," Peloquin said of the win. "And she really wants to bring the voices of Hoosiers back to D.C."

Between now and November, he said, Decio and her team are prioritizing hearing from as many residents as they can about the issues that matter to them.

Peloquin said he thinks Decio's desire to make community members' lives better resonated deeply with voters on Tuesday.

"I think the thing that's on everyone's mind is affordability," he said. "Gas is too high, housing is too high, healthcare is too high. The American Dream seems to be slipping out of reach for most Americans, and I think the idea of someone going and fighting on your behalf to make your life easier is one that everyone can identify with."

And that fighting spirit extends to how Decio would approach the Trump administration if elected, Peloquin said.

"She's going to deal with them like any other bully boss that's trying to push her around — she won't bow," he said. "She knows how to fight, that's what she's done her entire career, and she knows that it's not worth listening to bullies. You have to fight back against them."