King wins District 49 nomination

May 7—GOSHEN — The road to reelection for State Rep. District 49 Joanna King is looking clear after her win during Tuesday night's Primary Election. She bested Cindi Hajicek 3,805 votes to 2,047.

"Tonight's win for me is all about honesty, integrity, and principled leadership," King said following her win. "I've focused on all three of those from the very beginning, and I have a great deal of confidence in the voters of Elkhart County and tonight's win was a reflection of those things."

Before King entered the state political scene, she was known for her position as the founder and owner of JoJo's Pretzels and serving on the Middlebury School Board. King was voted into her role as District 49 State Representative in 2022 and today serves in several committees — Courts and Criminal Code, Government and Regulatory Reform, Public Health, and is Vice Chair of Veterans Affairs and Public Safety, and Assistant Majority Floor Leader.

Her competition, Hajicek, was a homeschool mom, former marketing manager, and representative of a broad population of Republicans who believed their representatives weren't conservative enough and made too many concessions to Democrats at the Statehouse. Hajicek said she aligns with GOP platforms like balancing budgets, lax taxes, and keeping government spending under control, and that had she been in office, she'd have voted against recent budget increases, COVID mandates, and for a full ban on abortion rather than regulations.

King received 3,805 votes for King, and Hajicek received 2,047 votes.

"I'm grateful to my family, my constituents, my volunteers, and all those that got out and voted today,' King added. "It's a blessing to be your state representative and it's an honor to serve."

Without a Democratic candidate to challenge her in the General Election in November, King is currently set to retake her seat.

King has said her top priorities are being fiscally conservative spending and a balanced budget, fighting for the sanctity of life at conception, and working toward solutions for childcare and education.

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.