Jim Baird (politician)

Jim Baird
Jim Baird
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
Member of the ; Putnam County Commission; from the 2nd district
	In office; 2006–2010
Preceded by	Dennis O'Hair
Succeeded by	Nancy Fogle
Personal details
Born	James Richard Baird; June 4, 1945 (age 76); Covington, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Danise Baird
Children	3
Education	Purdue University (BS, MS); University of Kentucky (PhD)
Website	House website
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1972
Rank	First lieutenant
Unit	523rd Transportation Company
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Bronze Star; Purple Heart
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 who serves as a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives 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.^[5] He previously served as a Putnam County commissioner from 2006 to 2010. A Vietnam veteran, Baird was elected to Congress on November 6, 2018.^[6]

Political career[]

He ran for Putnam County Commissioner in 2006 and defeated the incumbent, Dennis O'Hair, in the primary.^[7] Baird represented Marion Township, Greencastle Township, Madison Township, and Clinton Township.^[8] He served as Commissioner for the second district until his election to the State House in 2010. He was succeeded by Nancy Fogle.^[9] The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime legislative evaluation of 82% in 2017.

U.S. House of Representatives[]

Elections[]

2018

Baird ran for Indiana's 4th congressional district in 2018.^[10] The seat was vacated by Todd Rokita in his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Baird won the GOP primary on May 8, 2018.^[11]^[12] He won the election on November 6, 2018.

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 who signed 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 prevailed^[13] over 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 the election held by another state.^[14]^[15]^[16]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." Additionally, Pelosi reprimanded Baird and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."^[17]^[18] New Jersey Representative Bill Pascrell, citing section three of the 14th Amendment, called for Pelosi to not seat Baird and the other Republicans who signed the brief supporting the suit. Pascrell argued that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."^[19]

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^[20]

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

Personal life[]

Baird's son, Beau, was elected Chairman 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.^[21]^[22]

Baird resides in Greencastle,^[23] an outer suburb of Indianapolis.

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.^[24] 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.^[25]

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 a total of 23 convoy ambushes. Baird fought in two of the deadliest ambushes of the operation, and lost his left arm during the convoy ambush on March 12, 1971.^[26]^[12]^[25] 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.^[27]

References[]

^ "US Congress Rep. James R. Baird (R) | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress". Retrieved January 6, 2019.
^ "Indiana Report of Receipts and Expenditures of a Political Committee: Committee to Elect Jim Baird" (PDF). Retrieved October 3, 2020.
^ Perks, Ashley (November 15, 2018). "Indiana New Members 2019". TheHill. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
^ "List of All Offices and Office Holders". March 5, 2015.
^ "Complete House election results – CNN". www.cnn.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
^ "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.
^ . July 4, 2006 http://co.putnam.in.us:80/. Archived from the original on July 4, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2019. Missing or empty |title= (help)
^ "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.
^ "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.
^ "Indiana Primary Election Results". May 8, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Pathé, Simone (May 9, 2018). "Jim Baird Likely to Be Next Congressman From Indiana's 4th District". Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via www.rollcall.com.
^ 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.
^ 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.
^ "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.
^ 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.
^ Smith, David (December 12, 2020). "Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
^ "Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
^ Williams, Jordan (December 11, 2020). "Democrat asks Pelosi to refuse to seat lawmakers supporting Trump's election challenges". TheHill. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
^ "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
^ "Beau Baird sworn in as new state representative for House District 44". November 20, 2018.
^ "Bairds prevail in two district races". November 7, 2018.
^ "Republican Jim Baird announces run for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress". October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
^ "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress". Retrieved October 3, 2020.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Lam Son 719; The Cargo Must Get Through" (PDF).
^ Landers, Elizabeth. "Combat veteran lawmaker tweets '5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American' photo from House floor". Cnn.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
^ Perry, Amy. "Transportation Corps Inducts 6 Members, 1 Unit into HOF". Fort Lee Traveller. Retrieved October 3, 2020.

External links[]

Congressman Jim Baird official U.S. House website
Campaign website
Biography at the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress
Profile at 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
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Todd Rokita	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 Cindy Axne	United States representatives by seniority 301st	Succeeded by Tim Burchett

[1] "US Congress Rep. James R. Baird (R) | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.

[electjimbaird.com-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "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). Retrieved October 3, 2020.

[4] Perks, Ashley (November 15, 2018). "Indiana New Members 2019". TheHill. Retrieved January 6, 2019.

[5] "List of All Offices and Office Holders". March 5, 2015.

[6] "Complete House election results – CNN". www.cnn.com. Retrieved January 6, 2019.

[7] "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.

[8] . July 4, 2006 http://co.putnam.in.us:80/. Archived from the original on July 4, 2006. Retrieved January 6, 2019. Missing or empty |title= (help)

[9] "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.

[bannergraphic-10] "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.

[11] "Indiana Primary Election Results". May 8, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.

[auto-12] Jump up to: ^a ^b Pathé, Simone (May 9, 2018). "Jim Baird Likely to Be Next Congressman From Indiana's 4th District". Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via www.rollcall.com.

[13] 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.

[14] 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.

[:1-15] "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.

[16] 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.

[17] Smith, David (December 12, 2020). "Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2020.

[18] "Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.

[19] Williams, Jordan (December 11, 2020). "Democrat asks Pelosi to refuse to seat lawmakers supporting Trump's election challenges". TheHill. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.

[20] "Membership". Republican Study Committee. December 6, 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2021.

[21] "Beau Baird sworn in as new state representative for House District 44". November 20, 2018.

[22] "Bairds prevail in two district races". November 7, 2018.

[23] "Republican Jim Baird announces run for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress". October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 3, 2020.

[24] "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress". Retrieved October 3, 2020.

[auto1-25] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Lam Son 719; The Cargo Must Get Through" (PDF).

[26] Landers, Elizabeth. "Combat veteran lawmaker tweets '5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American' photo from House floor". Cnn.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.

[27] Perry, Amy. "Transportation Corps Inducts 6 Members, 1 Unit into HOF". Fort Lee Traveller. Retrieved October 3, 2020.

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show v t Indiana's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators	Todd Young (R) Mike Braun (R)
Representatives (ordered by district)	Frank J. Mrvan (D) Jackie Walorski (R) Jim Banks (R) Jim Baird (R) Victoria Spartz (R) Greg Pence (R) André Carson (D) Larry Bucshon (R) Trey Hollingsworth (R)

show v t Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Indiana
1st district	Prince Call Boon Blake Boon Proffit R. Owen Embree Albertson Lockhart Miller Lockhart Niblack Law Niblack Fuller Heilman Kleiner Hovey Posey Parrett Taylor Hemenway Foster Boehne Sr. Lieb Denton Luhring W. Wilson Rowbottom Boehne Jr. Schulte Madden Benjamin Hall Visclosky Mrvan
2nd district	Jennings J. Carr Ewing J. W. Davis Ewing J. W. Davis Thompson Henley Dunham English Cravens Kerr Wolfe J. Williams Humphreys Cobb O'Neall Bretz Hardy Miers Chaney Cullop Bland Greenwood Durgan Halleck Landgrebe Fithian Sharp McIntosh M. Pence Chocola Donnelly Walorski
3rd district	Test O. Smith Test Carty J. Carr Graham J. Carr J. L. White T. Smith J. L. Robinson Dunham G. G. Dunn Hughes W. Dunn Harrington R. Hill Hunter Holman Kerr N. Carr Bicknell Stockslager Howard J. Brown Tracewell Zenor Cox Dunbar Gardner Dunbar Crowe Pettengill Grant Crook S. Crumpacker Nimtz Brademas Hiler Roemer Souder Stutzman Banks
4th district	A. Lane G. H. Dunn T. Smith Cravens C. Smith Julian Parker J. Lane Cumback Foley Holman Farquhar Holman Julian Je. Wilson New Sexton New Holman Watson Holman Griffith Dixon Benham Canfield Farley Gillie Kruse Adair Roush Quayle Coats Long Souder Buyer Rokita Baird
5th district	McCarty Rariden Kennedy W. Brown Wick W. Brown Hendricks Parker Holloway Kilgore Julian Coburn Holman Browne Matson Cooper Overstreet Faris Holliday Moss Sanders N. Johnson Gillen Griswold Harness Walsh Beamer Roush Roudebush Hillis Jontz Buyer Burton Brooks Spartz
6th district	Kinnard Herod Wick Wallace J. W. Davis G. G. Dunn Gorman Hendricks Barbour Gregg Porter Dumont Coburn Voorhees Hunter M. Robinson W. Myers Browne H. Johnson Watson Barnard Gray Comstock Elliott Larrabee Jenckes N. Johnson Harden Wampler Roudebush Bray D. Evans Burton M. Pence Messer G. Pence
7th district	Hannegan A. White Howard H. Lane Wright McGaughey Thompson McGaughey J. G. Davis Scott J. G. Davis Voorhees Washburn Orth Manson Cason Landers Hanna Matyr Peelle English Bynum Henry Overstreet Korbly Moores Updike Ludlow Greenwood Landis Noland Bray J. Myers Pease Kerns J. Carson A. Carson
8th district	Pettit McDonald Mace Ja. Wilson A. White Orth Tyner Hunter Hostetler Peirce Lamb Johnston Brookshire Faris Henry Cromer Adair Vestal Boehne Jr. La Follette E. Mitchell Denton Merrill Denton Zion Hayes Cornwell Deckard McCloskey Hostettler Ellsworth Bucshon
9th district	Sample Cathcart Fitch Eddy Shanks Cason M. White Orth Doxey Ward Cheadle Waugh Hanly Landis Morrison Purnell Crowe E. Wilson Hogan E. Wilson L. Hamilton B. Hill Sodrel B. Hill Young Hollingsworth
10th district	Kennedy Rockhill Harlan Brenton Chamberlain Case W. Mitchell Edgerton Defrees W. Williams Sayler Haymond Calkins Motte T. Wood W. Owen Patton Hammond Hatch E. Crumpacker Peterson W. Wood Gray Springer Harvey Harmon Harvey Roudebush Dennis Sharp Jacobs Jr. J. Carson
11th district	Harlan Pettit Shanks McDowell Stilwell Shanks Packard J. Evans Cowgill Steele Martin Steele Landis Rauch Kraus Cook Hall Griswold Larrabee Ludlow Jacobs Sr. Brownson Barr Bruce Jacobs Jr. Hudnut Jacobs Jr.
12th district	A. Hamilton Colerick Lowry J. B. White McClellan McNagny Leighty J. M. Robinson Gilbert Gilhams Cline Fairfield Hogg Ludlow
13th district	Baker Calkins Shively Ford Shively Conn Royse Brick Barnhart Hickey Pettengill
At-large	Hendricks Jennings Packard / Orth / W. Williams
Territory	Parke Thomas Jennings

show v t Indiana's delegation(s) to the 116th-present United States Congress (ordered by seniority)
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)

show Authority control
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National libraries	United States
Other	US Congress

Jim Baird


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
Member of the Putnam County Commission from the 2nd district
In office 2006–2010
Preceded by	Dennis O'Hair
Succeeded by	Nancy Fogle

Personal details
Born	James Richard Baird (1945-06-04) June 4, 1945 (age 76) Covington, Indiana, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse(s)	Danise Baird
Children	3
Education	Purdue University (BS, MS) University of Kentucky (PhD)
Website	House website
Military service
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch/service	United States Army
Years of service	1969–1972^[1]
Rank	First lieutenant
Unit	523rd Transportation Company^[2]
Battles/wars	Vietnam War
Awards	Bronze Star Purple Heart


Academic background
Thesis	Effects of lactose, dried whey, enzyme supplementation and presoaking of the diet on early-weaned pig performance and nutrient utilization (1983)