{{short description|American politician}} {{Infobox officeholder | image = Judy Baker Headshot.jpg | name = Judy Baker | state_house = Missouri | state = Missouri | district = 25th | term_start = January 5, 2005 | term_end = January 7, 2009 | preceded = Vicky Riback-Wilson | succeeded = Mary Still | party = Democratic | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|4|10}} | birth_place = Columbia, Missouri, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = University of Missouri (BS)(MA)<br>Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (MA) | occupation = Professor, Health Care Administration | spouse = John D. Baker | children = 3 }}

'''Judith W. Baker''' (born April 10, 1960) is an American Democratic politician, small business owner, and educator from Missouri. She is a former member of the Missouri House of Representatives and a former Region VII Director for the United States Department of Health and Human Services.<ref name="auto">[https://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/11/20091117a.html Secretary Sebelius Announces New HHS Regional Directors News Release] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091201194216/http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2009pres/11/20091117a.html |date=2009-12-01 }} ''www.HHS.gov'', November 17, 2009</ref> Baker was a candidate for Missouri State Treasurer in the 2016 election, but was defeated in the general election by Eric Schmitt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/new-lt-gov-candidate-hints-at-fracture-in-democratic-unity/article_013b7a60-42b9-11e1-876f-001a4bcf6878.html|title=New lt. gov. candidate hints at fracture in Democratic unity|first=Jake|last=Wagman|publisher=|accessdate=4 January 2018}}</ref>

Baker ran for the Missouri Senate in the 2020 general election for Missouri's 19th Senate District.<ref>{{cite news |last=Klinge |first=Naomi |title=Former state representative Judy Baker announces bid for state senate |date=October 10, 2019 |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |url=https://www.komu.com/news/former-state-representative-judy-baker-announces-bid-for-state-senate |work=KOMU-TV}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Lucas |first=Judy |title=Former Missouri politician announces new campaign |date=October 10, 2019 |accessdate=May 18, 2020 |url=https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/state_news/former-missouri-politician-announces-new-campaign/article_8e05cb86-eb84-11e9-bade-9b14254c99c7.html |work=Columbia Missourian}}</ref> She lost to incumbent Caleb Rowden.<ref name="baker">{{cite web|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|url=https://enr.sos.mo.gov/|title=All Results - General Election, November 3, 2020|accessdate=January 30, 2021}}</ref>

==Early life and education == Judy Baker was born in Columbia, Missouri to elementary school teacher Beverly (Briggs) Wall and physician Norman Wall. Her father was a military doctor, which prompted several moves for the family during her youth. Baker graduated in 1978 from Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. She went on to obtain a B.S. in Educational Psychology from University of Missouri in 1981, a M.A. in Divinity from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1986, and a M.A. in Health Administration from the University of Missouri in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.house.mo.gov/bio.aspx?year=2005&district=025|title=Judy Baker bio|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|date=2005-01-15|accessdate=2012-01-22}}</ref> Prior to entering politics Baker worked a variety of jobs in the healthcare management field until starting her own consulting firm, Cura Advantage. Baker has been an adjunct professor at Columbia College, the University of Missouri, Washington University in St. Louis, and New York University.

==Personal life== She resides in Columbia with her husband, John Baker, a Baptist minister, and three children.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/judybakerformissouri#!/judybakerformissouri?sk=info|title=Baker For Missouri-Bio|publisher=Candidate via Facebook site|date=2012-01-22|accessdate=2012-01-22}}</ref>

==Politics== Judy Baker was first elected to the Missouri House in November 2004, defeating Republican Robert (Bob) Northrup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=131&oid=32854&arc=1|title=2004 Election results|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State website|year=2004|accessdate=2012-01-22}}</ref> She ran unopposed in 2006 to earn her second term.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sos.mo.gov/enrweb/raceresults.asp?eid=189&oid=43148&arc=1|title=2006 Election results|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State website|year=2006|accessdate=2012-01-22}}</ref> While in the Missouri House she founded the bi-partisan "Healthy Missourians" caucus, a group who advocated preventative medicine and responsible approaches to Missouri healthcare.<ref name="auto"/>

In 2008 Baker aspired to higher office, running for U.S. Congress in Missouri's 9th Congressional District to replace Kenny Hulshof. After beating three fellow Democrats in the August primary Baker lost a close November general election to Republican and fellow State Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer. Following the defeat Baker returned to the private sector and teaching at Columbia College until November, 2009 when she was appointed the regional HHS director by Health & Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Baker would hold that position for just over two years until resigning in early December, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/dec/12/judy-baker-leaves-obama-administration/|title=Judy Baker leaves Obama administration|publisher=The Columbia Tribune|date=2011-12-12|accessdate=2012-01-22|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722105514/http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/dec/12/judy-baker-leaves-obama-administration/|archive-date=2012-07-22|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Baker was one of eight Democratic candidates for Missouri Lieutenant Governor in 2012. She came in second to former Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee, who was defeated in the general election by Republican incumbent Peter Kinder.

In the 2016 election cycle, Baker filed as a candidate for Missouri State Treasurer. Her only opponent for the Democratic nomination was Patrick Contreras, of Kansas City, whom she defeated 59% to 41%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/|title=State of Missouri - Election Night Results|first=Missouri Secretary of State -|last=IT|website=enrarchives.sos.mo.gov|accessdate=4 January 2018}}</ref> She went on to face term-limited Republican State Senator Eric Schmitt of suburban St. Louis, as well as two third-party candidates and a write-in candidate, in the November general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://s1.sos.mo.gov/candidatesonweb/DisplayCandidatesPlacement.aspx?OfficeCode=SW20&ElectionCode=750003666|title=SOS, Missouri - Elections: Offices Filed in Candidate Filing|website=s1.sos.mo.gov|accessdate=4 January 2018}}</ref> Schmitt won with 56.65% of the vote, to Baker's 39.15%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://enr.sos.mo.gov/default.aspx|title=State of Missouri - Election Night Results|first=Missouri Secretary of State -|last=IT|website=enr.sos.mo.gov|accessdate=4 January 2018}}</ref>

In the 2020 election cycle, Baker was the sole Democratic candidate for the Missouri Senate, District 19, taking on incumbent Caleb Rowden, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.<ref>{{cite web|last=IT| first=Missouri Secretary of State -|url=https://s1.sos.mo.gov/CandidatesOnWeb/DisplayCandidatesPlacement.aspx?ElectionCode=750004975|title=UNOFFICIAL Candidate Filing List, 2020 Primary Election|website=s1.sos.mo.gov|accessdate=March 9, 2020}}</ref> She lost 48.33% to 51.60%.<ref name='baker' />

==Electoral history== ===State representative=== {{Election box begin | title=Missouri House of Representatives Democratic Primary Election, August 3, 2004, District 25<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/AllRacesAugust2004Primary.pdf|title=All Results; Official Election Returns|accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 1,808 |percentage = 41.49% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Mike Blum |votes = 850 |percentage = 19.50% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lara Underwood |votes = 839 |percentage = 19.25% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Russel P. Breyfogle, Jr. |votes = 552 |percentage = 12.67% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Duane D. Dimmitt |votes = 309 |percentage = 7.09% |change = }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 4,358 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title = Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 2, 2004, District 25<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/AllRacesGeneralNovember2004.pdf|title=All Results; Official Election Returns| accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 10,811 |percentage = 66.16% |change = +11.89 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Robert L. Northrup |votes = 5,529 |percentage = 33.84% |change = -8.44 }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 16,340 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Missouri House of Representatives Election, November 7, 2006, District 25<ref>{{cite web|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/AllRacesGeneralNovember2006.pdf|title=All Results; Official Election Returns| accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 8,671 |percentage = 100.00% |change = +33.84% }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 8,671 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}

===United States Representative=== {{Election box begin | title=United States House of Representatives Primary Election, August 5, 2008, 9th Congressional District<ref>{{cite web|title= All Results; Official Election Returns|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/AllRacesAugust2008Primary.pdf|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 22,498 |percentage = 44.12% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Steve Gaw |votes = 15,864 |percentage = 31.11% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Lyndon Bode |votes = 6,565 |percentage = 12.88% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Ken Jacob |votes = 6,060 |percentage = 11.89% |change = }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 50,987 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=United States House of Representatives Election, November 4, 2008, 9th Congressional District<ref>{{cite web|publisher= Missouri Secretary of State|url=https://www.sos.mo.gov/CMSImages/ElectionResultsStatistics/AllRacesGeneralNovember2008.pdf|title=All Results; Official Election Returns|accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 152,956 |percentage = 47.49% |change = +11.53 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Blaine Luetkemeyer |votes = 161,031 |percentage = 49.99% |change = -11.46 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Tamara Millay |votes = 8,108 |percentage = 2.52% |change = +0.90 }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 322,095 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}

===Lieutenant governor=== {{Election box begin | title=Missouri Lieutenant Governor Primary Election, August 7, 2012<ref name=MOSoS>{{cite web|title=All Results; Official Results| url=https://enrarchives.sos.mo.gov/enrnet/default.aspx?eid=750002299|publisher=Missouri Secretary of State|accessdate=April 19, 2020}}</ref>}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Susan Montee |votes = 131,319 |percentage = 44.93% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 46,236 |percentage = 15.82% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Bill Haas |votes = 35,044 |percentage = 11.99% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Sara Lampe |votes = 25,955 |percentage = 8.88% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Dennis Weisenberger |votes = 16,149 |percentage = 5.53% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Jackie Townes McGee |votes = 15,493 |percentage = 5.30% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Becky Lee Plattner |votes = 11,080 |percentage = 3.79% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Fred Kratky |votes = 10,976 |percentage = 3.76% |change = }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 292,252 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}

===Treasurer=== {{Election box begin | title=Missouri Treasurer Primary Election, August 2, 2016<ref name=MOSoS />}} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 182,218 |percentage = 59.25% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Pat Contreras |votes = 125,338 |percentage = 40.75% |change = }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 307,556 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title=Missouri Treasurer Election, November 8, 2016<ref name=MOSoS />}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 1,078,063 |percentage = 39.37% |change = -11.07 }} {{Election box winning candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Eric Schmitt |votes = 1,545,582 |percentage = 56.45% |change = +11.02 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Libertarian Party (United States) |candidate = Sean O'Toole |votes = 78,543 |percentage = 2.87% |change = -1.16 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Green Party (United States) |candidate = Carol Hexem |votes = 35,923 |percentage = 1.31% |change = +1.31 }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 2,738,122 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}

===State Senate=== {{Election box begin|title=Missouri Senate Election, November 3, 2020, District 19<ref name="baker" />}} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = Judy Baker |votes = 47,367 |percentage = 48.33% |change = -0.45 }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = '''Caleb Rowden''' |votes = '''50,570''' |percentage = '''51.60%''' |change = '''+0.38''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link| |party = Write-in candidate|Write-in |candidate = James Coyne |votes = 72 |percentage = 0.07% |change = +0.07 }} {{Election box total no change| |votes = 98,009 |percentage = 100 }} {{Election box end}}

==References== {{Reflist}} *''Official Manual, State of Missouri, 2005-2006.'' Jefferson City, MO: Secretary of State.

==External links== {{commons category}} *[http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills081/member/mem025.htm Missouri House of Representatives - Representative Judy Baker (D) 25th District] '''official MO House website''' * [https://www.baker4mo.com/ Judy Baker for MO Senate] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524193127/https://www.baker4mo.com/ |date=2020-05-24 }} 2020 Campaign website * http://www.showmebaker.com/ *[https://web.archive.org/web/20080412172444/http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.asp?id=MO09&cycle=2008 U.S. Congress campaign contributions] at OpenSecrets.org *''Follow the Money'' - Judy Baker **[http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=79092 2006] [http://www.followthemoney.org/database/StateGlance/candidate.phtml?c=66989 2004] Missouri House campaign contributions

{{s-start}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=Clint Zweifel}} {{s-ttl|title=Democratic nominee for State Treasurer of Missouri|years=2016}} {{s-aft|after=Vicki Englund}} {{s-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Judy}} Category:1960 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Missouri House of Representatives Category:Southern Baptist Theological Seminary alumni Category:University of Missouri alumni Category:Baptists from Virginia Category:Columbia College (Missouri) faculty Category:Politicians from Columbia, Missouri Category:Politicians from Chesapeake, Virginia Category:United States Department of Health and Human Services officials Category:Women state legislators in Missouri Category:American women academics Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Washington University in St. Louis faculty Category:New York University faculty Category:21st-century members of the Missouri General Assembly