Jim Baird (politician)

Jim Baird
File:Rep. Jim Baird official photo, 116th congress.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th district
Incumbent
Assumed office January 3, 2019
Preceded by	Todd Rokita
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 44th district
In office November 16, 2010 – November 20, 2018
Preceded by	Nancy Michael
Succeeded by	Beau Baird
Personal details
Born	James Richard Baird (1945-06-04) June 4, 1945 Covington, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Danise Baird
Children	3, including Beau
Residence	Greencastle, Indiana, U.S.
Education	Purdue University (BS, MS) University of Kentucky (PhD)
Website	House website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1972
Rank	First lieutenant
Unit	523rd Transportation Company
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Bronze Star Purple Heart
Jim Baird (politician) Academic background Thesis title Effects of lactose, dried whey, enzyme supplementation and presoaking of the diet on early-weaned pig performance and nutrient utilization Thesis url http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/10269903 Thesis year 1983 Academic work

James Richard Baird (born June 4, 1945) is an American businessman and politician who serves as the U.S. representative from Indiana's 4th congressional district. Before being elected to Congress, Baird served from 2010 to 2018 as a member of the Indiana House of Representatives and as a Putnam County commissioner from 2006 to 2010. A Vietnam veteran, Baird was elected to Congress on November 6, 2018.

Career

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

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. 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. Baird and the other officers were highly respected by the men because they shared the same risks and burdens.

The truck companies of the 8th Transportation Group delivered cargo along the most heavily ambushed road in Vietnam, QL19, through the Central Highlands in northern II Corps Tactical Zone. The 523rd had five 5-ton gun trucks at the time. The Group Commander considered the 523rd his best truck company and when instructed to send two light truck companies north to I Corps Tactical Zone for the upcoming Laotian Incursion, Operation Lam Son 719, in February through April 1971, he chose to send his best. 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. He earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. In 2012, the 523rd Transportation Company was inducted into the Transportation Corps Hall of Fame for its heroism during Operation Lam Son 719.

U.S. House of Representatives

Elections

2018

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana § District 4

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

2020

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana § District 4

Baird was reelected in 2020 with 66.6% 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 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.

Committee assignments

• Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
  • Subcommittee on Research and Technology (Ranking Member)
  • Subcommittee on Environment
• Committee on Agriculture
  • Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit
  • Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research

Caucus memberships

• Republican Study Committee

Electoral history

Republican primary results
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Baird	29,316	36.6
	Republican	Steve Braun	23,594	29.4
	Republican	Diego Morales	11,994	15.0
	Republican	Jared Thomas	8,453	10.5
	Republican	Kevin Grant	3,667	4.6
	Republican	James Nease	2,096	2.6
	Republican	Tim Radice	1,022	1.3
Total votes			80,142	100.0

Indiana's 4th congressional district, 2018
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James Baird	156,539	64.1
	Democratic	Tobi Beck	87,824	35.9
Total votes			244,363	100.0
	Republican hold

Indiana's 4th congressional district, 2020
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jim Baird (incumbent)	225,531	66.6
	Democratic	Joe Mackey	112,984	33.4
Total votes			338,515	100.0
	Republican hold

Personal life

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.

Baird resides in Greencastle, an outer suburb of Indianapolis.

External links

• Congressman Jim Baird official U.S. House website
• Campaign website
• Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
• Profile at Project Vote Smart
• Financial information (federal office) at the Federal Election Commission
• Legislation sponsored at The Library of Congress
• James Baird at Ballotpedia
• Our Campaigns – Representative James Baird (IN) profile
• Appearances on C-SPAN

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 Nancy Michael	Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 44th district 2010–2018	Succeeded by Beau Baird
United States House of Representatives
Preceded by Todd Rokita	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana's 4th congressional district 2019–present	Incumbent
United States order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by Cindy Axne	United States representatives by seniority 294th	Succeeded by Tim Burchett

116th	Senate: ▌T. Young (R) ▌M. Braun (R)	House: ▌P. Visclosky (D) ▌A. Carson (D) ▌L. Bucshon (R) ▌S. Brooks (R) ▌J. Walorski (R) ▌J. Banks (R) ▌T. Hollingsworth (R) ▌J. Baird (R) ▌G. Pence (R)
117th	Senate: ▌T. Young (R) ▌M. Braun (R)	House: ▌A. Carson (D) ▌L. Bucshon (R) ▌J. Walorski (R) ▌J. Banks (R) ▌T. Hollingsworth (R) ▌J. Baird (R) ▌G. Pence (R) ▌F. Mrvan (D) ▌V. Spartz (R)