Yudichak was elected to the State Senate in 2010. He easily won the Democratic nomination for the 14th District seat (being vacated by Democratic incumbent Ray Musto) when he defeated Wilkes-Barre mayor Tom Leighton by a 2 to 1 margin in the May 18, 2010, primary.[14][15] Yudichak won the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Luzerne County Commissioner Stephen Urban.[16][17]
On November 19, 2019, Yudichak changed his voter registration from Democrat to Independent and ceased to caucus with the Democrats, caucusing instead with the Republican majority. He blamed his party switch on "purist" partisan politicians "who demand that you choose a battle camp. You must pass their litmus test, and declare if you support ‘us,’ or ‘them.’"[18][19] Yudichak would later say the friction between him and the Democratic Party was because of Progressive Democrats who opposed the expansion of Pennsylvania's energy industry and "demonize[d]" blue-collar workers.[20][7]
On March 17, 2022, Yudichak announced he would not seek re-election after the redistricting process shifted his district to the Lehigh Valley and placed his home in the 20th Senate District.[21][22] After leaving office, Yudichak joined GSL Public Strategies Group, a government consulting firm.[23]
On October 17, 2023, Yudichak was chosen by the board of trustees of Luzerne County Community College to be the college's next president. He was one of three applicants interviewed for the job and was elected by a 13–2 vote of the board.[24] He succeeded President Thomas P. Leary on July 1, 2024.[25]
^Filaroski, P. Douglas (1998-05-17). "119TH REVEALS TALES OF 3 CANDIDATES". Times Leader.
^Morrison, Mitch (1996-02-27). "Kanjorski's Dam Project Deflating a Democratic State Senator and His GOP Counterpart Say They Won't Ask Gov. Ridge to Change His Mind on Funding for the Congressman's Proposed Project". Times Leader.
^Filaroski, P. Douglas (1998-05-20). "Yudichak Ends Jarolin's Reign". Times Leader.
