{{Short description|Ohio State Representative}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Rachel Baker | image = Rachel Baker.jpg | state_house = Ohio | state = Ohio | district = 27th | term_start = January 3, 2023 | preceded = Tom Brinkman Jr. | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1975|05|29}} | birth_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = | children = 3 | education = University of Michigan (BS)<br/> University of Cincinnati (BSN)<br/> University of Michigan (MSW)<br/> University of Cincinnati (PhD) }}
'''Rachel B. Baker''' (May 29, 1975) is a nurse and American politician who has served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives since 2023. Representing the 27th district, Baker's constituency encompasses eastern Hamilton County, including portions of Cincinnati.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Rachel B. Baker Biography |url=https://ohiohouse.gov/members/rachel-b-baker/biography |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Ohio House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref>
== Early life and career == Baker earned a Bachelor of Science (in psychology) from the University of Michigan, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati. She went on to receive a Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan's Rackham Graduate School in 1999, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rachel Baker, PhD, RN, CPN {{!}} Summit on Promoting Well-being and Resilience in Healthcare Professionals |url=https://clinicianwellbeing.osu.edu/people/rachel-baker |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=clinicianwellbeing.osu.edu |language=en}}</ref>
Baker is currently employed by Cincinnati-based TriHealth Inc. as a Nurse Researcher. She also concurrently serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Toerner |first=Laura |date=2023-01-09 |title=UC alumna, Ohio Rep. Rachel Baker ready to apply nursing skills to policymaking |url=https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/01/uc-alumna-ohio-rep-rachel-baker-ready-to-apply-nursing-skills-to-policymaking.html |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=UC News |language=en-us}}</ref>
== Ohio House of Representatives == With incumbent Representative Tom Brinkman unable to re-run in 2022 due to term limits, Baker and four others sought to replace him.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wartman |first=Scott |date=July 17, 2022 |title=Trump, abortion, guns: Where candidates in East Side statehouse primary stand |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/18/ohio-primary-whos-running-tom-brinkmans-seat-ohio-house/7815875001/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20221108003718/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2022/07/18/ohio-primary-whos-running-tom-brinkmans-seat-ohio-house/7815875001/ |archive-date=November 8, 2022 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=The Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref> In the Democratic primary, Baker defeated former Cincinnati mayoral candidate Gavi Begtrup with 62% of the vote,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wartman |first=Scott |date=August 2, 2022 |title=Election results: Who won Ohio House, Senate races in Cincinnati area Tuesday? |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/02/who-won-ohio-aug-2-primary-cincinnati-region/10143667002/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220803083026/https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/02/who-won-ohio-aug-2-primary-cincinnati-region/10143667002/ |archive-date=August 3, 2022 |access-date=July 23, 2024 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref> despite being outspent by an almost 3-to-1 ratio.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BAKER, RACHEL - FollowTheMoney.org |url=https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=55796702 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=www.followthemoney.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=BEGTRUP, GAVI - FollowTheMoney.org |url=https://www.followthemoney.org/entity-details?eid=25001338 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=www.followthemoney.org}}</ref> In the general election, Baker earned 56% of the vote, defeating Republican anti-abortion activist Jenn Giroux.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rachel Baker |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Baker |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref> Baker was sworn into the position on January 3, 2023.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 3, 2023 |title=Rep. Rachel Baker sworn in as state representative for Ohio House District 27 |url=https://www.house.ohio.gov/members/rachel-b-baker/news/rep-rachel-baker-sworn-in-as-state-representative-for-ohio-house-district-27-113059 |access-date=April 12, 2024 |publisher=Ohio House of Representatives}}</ref>
Baker later sought reelection for the same position in 2024, winning the general election with 55.8% of the vote.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rachel Baker |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Rachel_Baker |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
Baker serves as the ranking member of the Aviation and Aerospace Committee, and as a member of the Behavioral Health, Health Provider Services, Public Health Policy, and Technology and Innovation Committees.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rachel B. Baker Committees |url=https://ohiohouse.gov/members/rachel-b-baker/committees |access-date=2024-04-13 |publisher=Ohio House of Representatives |language=en}}</ref>
In 2021, Baker ran unsuccessfully to serve on the board of the Forest Hills Local School District.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 2, 2021 |title=Hamilton County Election Results - 2021 |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/elections/results/local/2021-11-02/39061/ |access-date=July 23, 2024 |website=The Cincinnati Enquirer |language=en}}</ref> During her tenure as state representative, Baker has criticized the board, which she claims refused to meet with her due to her Democratic party affiliation.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mitchell |first=Madeline |date=September 21, 2023 |title=State Rep. Rachel Baker says Forest Hills board won't meet with her since she's a Democrat |url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/education/2023/09/21/ohio-lawmaker-says-forest-hills-board-wont-meet-with-her/70918592007/ |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211172519/https://eu.cincinnati.com/story/news/education/2023/09/21/ohio-lawmaker-says-forest-hills-board-wont-meet-with-her/70918592007/ |archive-date=February 11, 2024 |access-date=April 12, 2024 |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer}}</ref>
== Personal life == Baker currently resides just outside of Cincinnati in Anderson Township, Ohio. She lives there with her three children and a family dog.<ref name=":0" />
== References == {{reflist}}
{{Members of the Ohio House of Representatives}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Rachel}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:Democratic Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Category:21st-century members of the Ohio General Assembly Category:Women state legislators in Ohio Category:21st-century American women politicians Category:Politicians from Cincinnati