Mike Yakawich

Michael "Mike" Yakawich is an American politician who represents the 24th Senate District in the Montana State Senate. Yakawich served in the Montana House of Representatives representing the 51st House District after being appointed to fill a vacancy in 2022. He held the seat from 2022 to 2024 after winning reelection.

Mike Yakawich
Member of the Montana Senate from the 24th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 6, 2025
Preceded by	Emma Kerr-Carpenter
Member of the Montana House of Representatives from the 51st district
In office April 19, 2022 – January 6, 2025
Preceded by	Frank Fleming
Succeeded by	Jodee Etchart
Personal details
Born	Michael Yakawich
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Yukiko
Children	5
Residence(s)	Billings, Montana, U.S.
Education	University of Montana (BA)

Early life and education

Yakawich is a native of Butte, Montana.^[1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology from the University of Montana in 1980 and graduated from the Unification Theological Seminary in 1987.^[2][3]

Career

From 1995 to 2018, Yakawich operated a small business, Yakawich Gifts. From 2014 to 2022, he served as a member of the Billings City Council. Yakawich also worked as a regional director of the Global Peace Foundation. On April 19, 2022, members of the Yellowstone County Board of Commissioners appointed Yakawich to succeed Frank Fleming in the Montana House of Representatives.^[4][5]

Personal life

Yakwich was raised Catholic and joined the Unification Church in 1979.^[6] He and his wife, Yukiko, have five children. He is a pastor at the Montana Family Church, a congregation affiliated with the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification.^[7]