Jim Baird (politician)

Last updated

Jim Baird
Rep. Jim Baird official photo, 116th congress.jpg
Member of the U.S.HouseofRepresentatives
from Indiana's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Academic background
Thesis Effects of lactose, dried whey, enzyme supplementation and presoaking of the diet on early-weaned pig performance and nutrient utilization  (1983)

James Richard Baird [3] (born June 4, 1945) [4] is an American businessman and politician serving as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 4th congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Baird served from 2010 to 2018 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives [5] and as a Putnam County commissioner from 2006 to 2010.

Contents

Early life and education

Baird was born in 1945 to William (1916-1989) and Martha Ewbank Baird (1924-1998). William was born in Scotland. [6] Baird graduated from Turkey Run High School in 1963, participating in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. He obtained a Bachelor of Science in animal science from Purdue University in 1967 and a Master's of Science in animal science from Purdue in 1969. After the Vietnam War, Baird earned a PhD in animal science monogastric nutrition from the University of Kentucky in 1975.

Military service

Baird served in the ROTC at Purdue University from 1963 to 1965. He attended the Officer Candidate School Class 2–70 at Fort Benning and Jungle Warfare School in Panama from 1969 to 1970 and was commissioned in the Infantry. [7] The United States Army was sending infantry divisions home when Second Lieutenant Baird arrived in Vietnam in 1970. Because of the excess of Infantry officers, he was assigned to the 523rd Transportation Company (Light Truck) at Cha Rang Valley.

The truck companies of the 8th Transportation Group delivered cargo along the most heavily ambushed road in Vietnam, QL19, through the Central Highlands in the northern II Corps Tactical Zone. The 523rd had five 5-ton gun trucks at the time. The Group Commander selected the 523rd as one of the two light truck companies to be deployed north to I Corps Tactical Zone for the upcoming Laotian Incursion, Operation Lam Son 719, in February through April 1971. The 523rd was attached to the 39th Transportation Battalion and stationed at the abandoned Marine Corps base Camp Vandergrift. During the two-and-a-half-month incursion into Laos, the North Vietnamese Army tried to close down the supply route with 23 convoy ambushes. Baird fought in two of the operation's deadliest ambushes and lost his left arm during the convoy ambush on March 12, 1971. [8] [9] [10] He earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. [2] In 2012, the 523rd Transportation Company was inducted into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame for its heroism during Operation Lam Son 719. [11] [12]

Baird was fondly nicknamed "pig farmer" by fellow infantrymen because of his passion for breeding pigs. [13]

Badges, medals, and ribbons

Career

From 1974 to 1983, Baird served as a Purdue University extension agent for Putnam County. [14] Baird is the owner of Baird Family Farms, Triple Tree Enterprises, Inc. (a gas station operator in Crawfordsville), and Indiana Home Care Plus of Greencastle, a home health agency. He previously worked as an animal nutritionist at Landmark Cooperative, a feed manufacturer, and as director of sales and nutrition at Agmax.

Baird ran for Putnam County commissioner in 2006 and defeated the incumbent, Dennis O'Hair, in the primary. [15] He represented Marion Township, Greencastle Township, Madison Township, and Clinton Township. [16] He served as commissioner for the second district until his election to the State House in 2010. He was succeeded by Nancy Fogle. [17] The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime legislative evaluation of 82% in 2017.

Indiana House of Representatives

Baird represented House District 44, including Putnam County and portions of Clay, Morgan, Owen, and Parke counties, from 2010 until 2018. He served as a member of the Ways and Means Committee—chairing the Health and Medicaid Subcommittee—the Agriculture and Rural Development Committee, Veteran Affairs and Public Safety, the Environmental Affairs Committee, and the Statutory Committee on Ethics.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

Baird ran for Indiana's 4th congressional district in 2018. [18] The seat was vacated by Todd Rokita in his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Baird won the May 8 Republican primary [19] [9] and the November 6 general election.

2020

Baird was reelected in 2020 with 66.6% of the vote. [20]

2022

Baird was reelected in 2022 with 68.2% of the vote.

Tenure

Baird was the second-oldest member of the 116th Congress freshman class, after Democrat Donna Shalala, who was born in 1941.

In December 2020, Baird was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania , a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated [21] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state. [22] [23] [24]

Baird is one of three deployed Vietnam War veterans currently serving in the House, the others being Jack Bergman and Mike Thompson.

Baird voted to provide Israel with support following 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. [25] [26]

Baird was ranked the Republican Member of Congress with highest turnover of 2023—second most over all in the House—per LegiStorm's Worst Bosses Index, at three times the House average. [27] [28]

Committee assignments

For the 118th Congress: [29]

Caucus membership

Electoral history

Republican primary results, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Baird 29,316 36.6
Republican Steve Braun 23,59429.4
Republican Diego Morales 11,99415.0
Republican Jared Thomas8,45310.5
Republican Kevin Grant3,6674.6
Republican James Nease2,0962.6
Republican Tim Radice1,0221.3
Total votes80,142 100.0
Indiana's 4th congressional district, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Baird 156,539 64.1
Democratic Tobi Beck87,82435.9
Total votes244,363 100.0
Republican hold
Indiana's 4th congressional district, 2020
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Baird 225,531 66.6
Democratic Joe Mackey112,98433.4
Total votes338,515 100.0
Republican hold
Indiana's 4th congressional district, 2022
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Jim Baird 134,442 68.2
Democratic Roger Day62,66831.8
Total votes197,110 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life

Baird is married to Danise née Swain, a registered nurse who graduated from Purdue University in 1968. [39] Baird has three children: daughter Vanessa Lee Norsworthy, born 1968, and sons Stacey Gilbert, born 1972, and Jason Beau, born 1981. Baird's son, Beau, was elected chair of the Putnam County Republican Party in March 2017. Beau ran to replace him in the Indiana House of Representatives. Beau won the election on November 6, 2018. [40] [41]

Baird resides outside of Greencastle in Clinton Township. [42] Baird has attended Gobin United Methodist Church in Greencastle since 1975. [43]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Susan Davis (politician)</span> American politician (born 1944)

Susan Carol Davis is a former American politician who served as the U.S. representative for California's 49th congressional district for one term and California's 53rd congressional district for nine terms from 2001 to 2021. She is a member of the Democratic Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julia Carson</span> American politician (1938–2007)

Julia May Carson was an American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives for Indiana's 7th congressional district from 1997 until she died in 2007. Carson was the first woman and first African American to represent Indianapolis in the U.S. Congress. She was also the second African American woman elected to Congress from Indiana, after Katie Hall, and her grandson André Carson succeeded to her seat following her death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Baird</span> American psychologist, politician and university administrator (born 1956)

Brian Norton Baird is an American psychologist and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. representative for Washington's 3rd congressional district from 1999 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Jordan</span> American politician (born 1964)

James Daniel Jordan is an American politician currently serving in his ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives as the representative for Ohio's 4th congressional district since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dina Titus</span> American politician (born 1950)

Alice Constandina "Dina" Titus is an American politician who has been the United States representative for Nevada's 1st congressional district since 2013. She served as the U.S. representative for Nevada's 3rd congressional district from 2009 to 2011, when she was defeated by Joe Heck. Titus is a member of the Democratic Party. She served in the Nevada Senate and was its minority leader from 1993 to 2009. Before her election to Congress, Titus was a professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She was the Democratic nominee for governor of Nevada in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ralph Norman</span> American politician (born 1953)

Ralph Warren Norman Jr. is an American real estate developer and politician who has served as the U.S. representative for South Carolina's 5th congressional district since 2017. His district includes most of the South Carolina side of the Charlotte metropolitan area, along with outer portions of the Upstate and Midlands. A member of the Republican Party, Norman served as the South Carolina state representative for the 48th district from 2005 to 2007 and from 2009 to 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tracey Mann</span> American businessman and politician (born 1976)

Tracey Robert Mann is an American businessman and politician who has served as the U.S. representative from Kansas's 1st congressional district since 2021. The district, popularly known as "the Big First," includes parts of 63 counties in central and western Kansas and is the seventh-largest district in the nation that does not cover an entire state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Judy Chu</span> American politician (born 1953)

Judy May Chu is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for California's 28th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, she has held a seat in Congress since 2009, representing California's 32nd congressional district until redistricting. Chu is the first Chinese American woman elected to Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Carter (Texas politician)</span> American politician (born 1941)

John Rice Carter is the U.S. representative serving Texas's 31st congressional district since 2003. He is a Republican. The district includes the northern suburbs of Austin, as well as Fort Cavazos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Balderson</span> American politician and businessman (born 1962)

William Troy Balderson is an American politician and businessman serving as the U.S. representative from Ohio's 12th congressional district since 2018. He served as an Ohio state senator representing the 20th district from 2011 until his election to Congress. A member of the Republican Party, he was a member of the Ohio House of Representatives from 2009 to 2011.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Billy Long</span> American politician (born 1955)

William Hollis Long II is an American politician and auctioneer who served as the U.S. representative for Missouri's 7th congressional district from 2011 to 2023. The district includes much of the southwestern quadrant of the state and is anchored in Springfield. It also includes Joplin and Branson. On December 4, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention to nominate Long to serve as Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Banks</span> American politician (born 1979)

James Edward Banks is an American politician who is a United States Senator-elect from Indiana. He has served since 2017 as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 3rd congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he served as a member of the Indiana Senate from 2010 to 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Mackenzie</span> American politician (born 1982)

Ryan Edward Mackenzie is an American politician who is the U.S. Representative-elect from Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, he served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2012 to 2024. Before redistricting, he represented the 134th district until his final term, when he was moved to the 187th district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rodric Bray</span> American politician

Rodric D. "Rod" Bray is an American politician from Indiana. A member of the Republican Party, Bray has been a member of the Indiana State Senate since 2012, representing the 37th state Senate district, which comprises all of Morgan County and a portion of Johnson, Owen and Putnam counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carol Miller (politician)</span> American politician (born 1950)

Carol Miller is an American farmer, educator, and politician who has represented West Virginia's 1st congressional district since 2019. The district, numbered as the 3rd district from 2019 to 2023, covers the southern half of the state, including Huntington, Charleston, Bluefield, and Beckley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana</span>

The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Indiana, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the House of Representatives, as well as elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The filing deadline for candidates was February 9, 2018. The primaries were held on May 8, 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dusty Johnson</span> American politician (born 1976)

Dustin Michael Johnson is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for South Dakota's at-large congressional district since 2019. A member of the Republican Party, he served as South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner from 2005 to 2011, when he was appointed chief of staff to Governor Dennis Daugaard, a position he held until 2014. Between his state political career and congressional service, Johnson was the vice president of Vantage Point Solutions in Mitchell, South Dakota.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Steil</span> American politician (born 1981)

Bryan George Steil is an American attorney, businessman, and Republican politician from Janesville, Wisconsin. He is a member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Wisconsin's 1st congressional district since 2019. In the 118th Congress, he is chair of the House Administration Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, he served as a member of the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beau Baird</span> American politician from Indiana

Jason Beau Baird is an American businessman and politician from the state of Indiana. He serves in the Indiana House of Representatives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana</span>

The 2022 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana were held on November 8, 2022, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the state of Indiana, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with other elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, elections to the U.S. Senate, and various state and local elections. Primary elections took place on May 3.

References

  1. ↑ "US Congress Rep. James R. Baird (R) | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress" . Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  3. ↑ "Indiana Report of Receipts and Expenditures of a Political Committee: Committee to Elect Jim Baird" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on December 24, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  4. ↑ Perks, Ashley (November 15, 2018). "Indiana New Members 2019". The Hill . Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. ↑ "List of All Offices and Office Holders". March 5, 2015. Archived from the original on March 20, 2019. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  6. ↑ "William F. Baird". The Banner Graphic. April 10, 1989. pp. A10. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress" . Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  8. ↑ Landers, Elizabeth (January 3, 2019). "Combat veteran lawmaker tweets '5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American' photo from House floor". CNN . Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  9. 1 2 Pathé, Simone (May 9, 2018). "Jim Baird Likely to Be Next Congressman From Indiana's 4th District". Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019– via www.rollcall.com.
  10. ↑ "Lam Son 719; The Cargo Must Get Through" (PDF).
  11. ↑ Perry, Amy. "Transportation Corps Inducts 6 Members, 1 Unit into HOF". Fort Lee Traveller. Retrieved October 3, 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ "39th Transportation Battalion | U.S. Army Transportation Corps and Transportation School | Fort Lee, Virginia".
  13. ↑ "One of Indiana's new congressmen is a Vietnam veteran, a farmer … and a scientist".
  14. ↑ Igo, Becky (October 11, 1983). "Extension agent Baird leaving for greener pastures". The Banner Graphic. p. 1. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Local News: Baird upsets O'Hair for commissioner (5/3/06) | Greencastle Banner Graphic". June 21, 2018. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Putnam County Indiana Government Web Pages". July 4, 2006. Archived from the original on July 4, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  17. ↑ "Local News: Civic duty drives Fogle (12/11/10) | Greencastle Banner Graphic". May 9, 2018. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Local News: Baird announces bid for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress (10/19/17)". Greencastle Banner Graphic. October 19, 2017. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Indiana Primary Election Results". The New York Times . May 8, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019– via NYTimes.com.
  20. ↑ "Republican Jim Baird wins reelection to U.S. House in Indiana's 4th Congressional District". AP News . November 4, 2020. Retrieved August 13, 2022.
  21. ↑ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News . Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  22. ↑ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  24. ↑ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN . Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  25. ↑ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  26. ↑ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  27. ↑ "Worst bosses? - LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  28. ↑ "Freshman member leads in staff turnover with 4x the House average | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved January 30, 2024.
  29. ↑ "James R. Baird". Clerk of the United States House of Representatives. Retrieved June 14, 2023.
  30. ↑ "House Aerospace Caucus". estes.house.gov. December 20, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Western Caucus Celebrates Unanimous WOTUS Decision". Congressional Western Caucus. May 26, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Members | Conservative Climate Caucus". conservativeclimatecaucus-curtis.house.gov. August 3, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Election Integrity Caucus | Representative Claudia Tenney". tenney.house.gov. April 20, 2021. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  34. ↑ "For Country Caucus Members | Representative Jared Golden". golden.house.gov. March 29, 2022. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Members | FFA Caucus". ffacaucus-mann.house.gov. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  36. ↑ "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  37. ↑ "Foster, Baird Announce Research & Development Caucus for 116th Congress | Congressman Bill Foster". foster.house.gov. April 4, 2019. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  38. ↑ "Members | Congressional Wine Caucus". winecaucus-mikethompson.house.gov. July 14, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  39. ↑ "PU Grad Baird takes over extension reigns". The Banner Graphic. October 17, 1974. p. 1. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Beau Baird sworn in as new state representative for House District 44". November 20, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Bairds prevail in two district races". November 7, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Republican Jim Baird announces run for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress". October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  43. ↑ "IN-04 Jim Baird". The Well News. Retrieved February 15, 2022.
Political offices
Preceded by
Dennis O'Hair
 Member of the Putnam County Commission
from the 2nd district
2006–2010		Succeeded by
Nancy Fogle
Indiana House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Indiana House of Representatives
from the 44th district
2010–2018		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 4th congressional district
2019–present		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
225th		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.