Jim Baird (politician)

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 commissioner for Putnam County, Indiana from 2006 to 2010. A Vietnam veteran, Baird was elected to Congress on November 6, 2018.[6]

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 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

Military service

Jim 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. Baird and the other officers were highly respected by the men because they shared the same risks and burdens.[8]

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.[9][10][8] 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]

Political career

He ran for Putnam County Commissioner in 2006 and defeated the incumbent, Dennis O'Hair, in the primary.[12] Baird represented Marion Township, Greencastle Township, Madison Township, and Clinton Township.[13] He served as Commissioner for the second district until his election to the State House in 2010. He was succeeded by Nancy Fogle.[14] The American Conservative Union gave him a lifetime legislative evaluation of 82% in 2017.

U.S. House of Representatives

2018

Baird ran for Indiana's 4th congressional district in 2018.[15] The seat was vacated by Todd Rokita in his unsuccessful run for U.S. Senate. Baird won the GOP primary on May 8, 2018.[16][10] 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[17] 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.[18][19][20]

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."[21][22] 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."[23]

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

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.[24][25]

Baird resides in Greencastle, Indiana.[26]

References

1. "US Congress Rep. James R. Baird (R) | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
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). 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. "Meet Jim – Jim Baird for Congress". Retrieved October 3, 2020.
8. "Lam Son 719; The Cargo Must Get Through" (PDF).
9. Landers, Elizabeth. "Combat veteran lawmaker tweets '5 eyes. 5 arms. 4 legs. All American' photo from House floor". Cnn.com. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
10. 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.
11. Perry, Amy. "Transportation Corps Inducts 6 Members, 1 Unit into HOF". Fort Lee Traveller. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
12. "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.
13. . 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)
14. "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.
15. "Local News: Baird announces bid for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress (10/19/17)". Greencastle Banner Graphic. Retrieved January 7, 2018.
16. "Indiana Primary Election Results". May 8, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019 – via NYTimes.com.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. "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.
20. 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.
21. Smith, David (December 12, 2020). "Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
22. "Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
23. 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.
24. https://www.bannergraphic.com/story/2567986.html
25. https://www.bannergraphic.com/story/2564748.html
26. "Republican Jim Baird announces run for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress". 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