Catharine Baker | |
|---|---|
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 16th district | |
| In office December 1, 2014 –November 30, 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Joan Buchanan |
| Succeeded by | Rebecca Bauer-Kahan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Catharine Ann Bailey May 1,1971 Cathedral City,California |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | Daniel |
| Children | 2 |
| Residence(s) | Dublin,California |
| Alma mater | University of Chicago [1] UC Berkeley School of Law [1] |
| Occupation | Attorney,Politician |
| Website | Assembly (archived) Campaign |
Catharine Bailey Baker (born May 1,1971) is an American attorney and politician from California. Baker was a Republican member of the California State Assembly from 2014 to 2018. [2] She has served on the California Fair Political Practices Commission (the state's ethics commission) since 2021. [3] [4] [5]
Baker was born as Catharine Ann Bailey in Cathedral City,California. [6]
In 1993,Baker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of Chicago. In 2000,Baker earned a JD degree in Law from UC Berkeley School of Law. [6]
In 2000,Baker started her legal career as a law clerk for the Honorable Alicemarie Huber Stotler,a judge for the United States District Court for the Central District of California. [6]
In 2001,Baker practiced law as an attorney at Morrison &Foerster LLP until 2011. [6] In 2011,Baker practiced law as an attorney at Hoge Fenton Jones &Appel. [6] [7]
On November 4,2014,Baker won the election and became a Republican member of California State Assembly for District 16,which encompasses Lamorinda and the Tri-Valley region of the San Francisco Bay Area. Baker defeated Dublin City Councilman Tim Sbranti with 51.6% of the votes. [8] [9] On November 8,2016,as an incumbent,Baker won the election and continued serving District 16. Baker defeated Pleasanton City Councilwoman Cheryl Cook-Kallio with 55.9% of the vote. [10]
On November 6,2018,as an incumbent,Baker sought a third term but narrowly lost the election with 49% of the votes. [11] Baker was defeated by attorney Rebecca Bauer-Kahan. [12] [6]
During her time in office,Baker was the only Republican to represent any portion of the Bay Area at either the federal or the state level. [13] [14] A piece of legislation she authored was AB 434:State Web accessibility which came in effect on July 1,2019. [15]
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Catharine Baker | 31,632 | 36.7 | |
| Democratic | Tim Sbranti | 25,217 | 29.2 | |
| Democratic | Steve Glazer | 19,636 | 22.8 | |
| Democratic | Newell Arnerich | 9,794 | 11.4 | |
| Total votes | 86,279 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Catharine Baker | 71,452 | 51.6 | |
| Democratic | Tim Sbranti | 67,152 | 48.4 | |
| Total votes | 138,604 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican gain from Democratic | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Catharine Baker (incumbent) | 71,906 | 53.2 | |
| Democratic | Cheryl Cook-Kallio | 63,307 | 46.8 | |
| Total votes | 135,213 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Catharine Baker (incumbent) | 129,585 | 55.9 | |
| Democratic | Cheryl Cook-Kallio | 102,290 | 44.1 | |
| Total votes | 231,875 | 100.0 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Catharine Baker (incumbent) | 69,360 | 56.6 | |
| Democratic | Rebecca Bauer-Kahan | 53,269 | 43.4 | |
| Total votes | 122,629 | 100.0 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Democratic | Rebecca Bauer-Kahan | 111,222 | 51.0 | |
| Republican | Catharine Baker (incumbent) | 106,683 | 49.0 | |
| Total votes | 217,905 | 100.0 | ||
| Democratic gain from Republican | ||||
After leaving the California State Assembly, Baker has returned to private practice as an attorney, and is currently Special Counsel at Hoge Fenton Jones & Appel, advising businesses and non-profit organizations. [19]
In August 2019, Baker joined the board of Livermore Lab Foundation, a nonprofit organization, [20] and was named the President of Diablo Regional Arts Association. [21]
In December 2020, State Controller Betty Yee appointed Baker to a seat on the five-member California Fair Political Practices Commission for a four-year term beginning in January 2021. [3] [4] [5]
Baker's husband is Dan Baker. They have two children. Baker and her family live in Dublin, California. [6] [18]