Rebecca Kubacki

Early life and education

Born to parents Christina and Raul Espinoza, Kubacki was born in a migrant workers camp in Immokalee, Florida. Kubacki, who is the middle child of her parents seven children, grew up in Texas before her parents found work as tomato farmers and settled in Oswego, Indiana when she was young. She graduated from Pierceton High School in Pierceton, Indiana, where she met her future husband, Michael Kubacki. She went on to attend Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

Indiana House of Representatives

In 2010, Kubacki launched a primary challenge to nine-term Republican incumbent William Rupple, where she defeated him 53.8% to 46.1%. In the general election, Kubacki faced Democratic opponent Allen Lee Dunnagan and won with 66% of the vote. Kubacki was sworn in on November 16, 2010 and became the first Hispanic Republican to serve in the Indiana House. She was subsequently elected to a second term after defeating Kosciusko County Democratic Party Treasurer John Bonitati with over 75% of the vote. In the 2014 Republican primary Kubacki was challenged by business owner Curt Nisly, who attacked her primarily on her position against amending the Indiana Constitution to define "marriage." On May 6, 2014, Kubacki lost to Nisly 2,541 votes to 4,624, or 35.2% to 64.7%. Throughout the entire campaign, Kubacki stood strong in her position that proposed legislation should be for the betterment of the State and did not give in to the pressures of interest groups within her party.

Personal life

Kubacki lives with her husband Michael in Syracuse, Indiana, they have two adult children, Katherine Kubacki (Teacher in Warsaw) and Matthew Kubacki (Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Indianapolis). Michael is the Chairman of Lakeland Financial Corp in Warsaw, Indiana and is a former member of the board of directors at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Kubacki is a practicing Roman Catholic and attends St Martin De Porres Parish in Syracuse.