SPOTLIGHT RACE: Ryan Kominakis for IN-HD04
Ryan Kominakis is a Marine veteran, steelworker, union representative, husband, father, and lifelong Hoosier who has spent his entire life serving others. He grew up in Union Township, where he learned hard work by watching the people around him show up every day for their families and their community. Those lessons stayed with him and shaped the person he is today.
Right after graduating high school, Ryan enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served four deployments, including one in Afghanistan, where he learned what it means to stay calm under pressure and take responsibility for the people who count on you. The Marine Corps taught him discipline, teamwork, and the importance of protecting those who cannot protect themselves.
When Ryan came home, he went straight to work at U.S. Steel Gary Works. He has spent more than a decade as a crane operator, crew leader, and union representative, helping coworkers navigate disputes, enforcing safety standards, and defending the rights of the men and women who keep the mill running.
Ryan understands long shifts, tough schedules, and the pride that comes from earning your living through real work. He also understands how rising costs, higher utility bills, and policy decisions in Indianapolis affect working families because his own family feels those pressures too.
Ryan and his wife, Alyse, have been together for nearly sixteen years. They are raising their two boys, Charlie and Jack, in Valparaiso. Their family is active in school events, community gatherings, and local organizations.
Ryan serves at VFW Post 988, where he helps lead ceremonies for Memorial Day, Veterans Day, POW/MIA Day, and other observances. Honoring service is not symbolic for him. It is personal, meaningful, and something he believes strengthens the community as a whole.
Ryan is running for State Representative because too many families in District 4 are being asked to do more while getting less in return. Costs keep rising while wages stay flat. Utility bills increase while corporate developers get special treatment. Local budgets are stretched thin because of choices made by people who are out of touch with everyday Hoosiers.
He believes leadership should come from people who understand work, responsibility, and sacrifice. He believes the Statehouse needs fewer insiders and more honest voices who have lived the same struggles as the people they represent.
Ryan wants an Indiana where families can build stability without constant worry, where veterans receive real support, and where workers are respected for the value they bring to their communities.
https://www.ryankominakis.com/