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Charles D. Baker

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Charles D. Baker
Image of Charles D. Baker
Prior offices
Governor of Massachusetts
Successor: Maura Healey
Predecessor: Deval Patrick

Education

High school

Needham High School, 1975

Bachelor's

Harvard University, 1979

Graduate

Northwestern University, Kellogg School of Management, 1986

Personal
Profession
Venture capitalist
Contact

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Charles D. Baker (Republican Party) was the Governor of Massachusetts. He assumed office on January 8, 2015. He left office on January 5, 2023.

Baker (Republican Party) ran for re-election for Governor of Massachusetts. He won in the general election on November 6, 2018.

In December 2021, Baker stated he would not seek re-election.[1]

In 2014, Baker ran for governor on a joint ticket with lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, Karyn Polito (R). He succeeded two-term Governor Deval Patrick (D).[2]

Baker ran for governor in 2010, winning the Republican nomination but losing to Patrick, the incumbent, in the general election. Patrick decided not to run for re-election in 2014.[3][4]

Before being elected governor of Massachusetts, Baker served as a selectman of Swampscott, Massachusetts from 2004 to 2007, Massachusetts secretary of administration and finance from 1994 to 1998, and Massachusetts undersecretary and then secretary of health and human services from 1991 to 1994. He was also the CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare.[5][6][7]

Biography

Baker was born in Elmira, New York, and spent most of his childhood in Needham, Mass.[8] Baker's father served in various roles in the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan (R) and Richard Nixon (R). Baker attended Needham High School and then graduated from Harvard University. He worked for the Massachusetts High Technology Council as a corporate communications director before obtaining an M.B.A. from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.[5][7]

In the 1980s, Baker took a position with the newly founded Pioneer Institute, a think tank. Baker was secretary of health and human services under Gov. Weld (R), then secretary of administration and finance under Weld and then Acting Gov. Paul Cellucci (R). When Baker left the public sector in 1998, he joined Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates as CEO. He then became CEO of the nonprofit Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare.[5][7]

From 2004 to 2007, Baker served as a selectman of Swampscott, Massachusetts. After his unsuccessful 2010 gubernatorial bid, he worked for the investment firm General Catalyst.[9]

Political career

Governor of Massachusetts (2015-2023)

Baker was first elected to the governor's office on November 4, 2014. He was sworn into office on January 8, 2015.[2]

Swampscott selectman (2004-2007)

Baker served as a selectman of Swampscott, Massachusetts, from 2004-2007.

Elections

2022

See also: Massachusetts gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2022

Charles D. Baker did not file to run for re-election.

2018

See also: Massachusetts gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2018

General election

General election for Governor of Massachusetts

Incumbent Charles D. Baker defeated Jay Gonzalez in the general election for Governor of Massachusetts on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Charles D. Baker
Charles D. Baker (R)
 
64.7
 
1,781,341
Image of Jay Gonzalez
Jay Gonzalez (D)
 
32.2
 
885,770
 Other/Write-in votes
 
3.1
 
85,554

Total votes: 2,752,665
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Massachusetts

Jay Gonzalez defeated Robert Massie in the Democratic primary for Governor of Massachusetts on September 4, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jay Gonzalez
Jay Gonzalez
 
64.4
 
348,434
Robert Massie
 
35.6
 
192,404

Total votes: 540,838
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Massachusetts

Incumbent Charles D. Baker defeated Scott Lively in the Republican primary for Governor of Massachusetts on September 4, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Charles D. Baker
Charles D. Baker
 
63.9
 
174,126
Image of Scott Lively
Scott Lively
 
36.1
 
98,421

Total votes: 272,547
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2014

See also: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2014

The general election took place on November 4, 2014.

Primary election
Governor of Massachusetts, Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngCharles D. Baker 74.1% 116,004
Mark Fisher 25.7% 40,240
Write-in votes 0.2% 336
Total Votes 156,580
Election results via Massachusetts Secretary of State.
General election
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngCharles D. Baker/Karyn Polito 48.4% 1,044,573
     Democratic Martha Coakley/Steve Kerrigan 46.5% 1,004,408
     United Independent Evan Falchuk/Angus Jennings 3.3% 71,814
     Independent Scott Lively/Shelly Saunders 0.9% 19,378
     Independent Jeffrey McCormick/Tracy Post 0.8% 16,295
     Nonpartisan Write-in votes 0.1% 1,858
Total Votes 2,158,326
Election results via Massachusetts Secretary of State

2010

See also: Massachusetts gubernatorial election, 2010 and Gubernatorial elections, 2010

Baker lost to Deval Patrick (D) in the general election on November 2, 2010.

Massachusetts Gubernatorial/Lieutenant Gubernatorial, General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDeval Patrick/Tim Murray Incumbent 48.5% 1,112,283
     Republican Charles D. Baker/Richard R. Tisei 42.1% 964,866
     Independent Tim Cahill/Paul Loscocco 8% 184,395
     Green Jill E. Stein/Richard P. Purcell 1.4% 32,895
Total Votes 2,294,439
Election results via Massachusetts Secretary of State

Campaign themes

2014

At a campaign stop in Brockton on Oct. 8, 2013, Baker described an idea for a program resembling the Obama administration's “Race to the Top" initiative. Baker said that he wanted to draft a mutual consent contract that would improve strategic coordination between cities and the state to help cities set and achieve realistic goals.[13]

Presidential preference

2020

See also: Presidential election in Massachusetts, 2020

Baker did not endorse a candidate in the 2020 presidential election.[14]

2016

See also: Presidential election in Massachusetts, 2016

Baker endorsed Chris Christie (R) in the 2016 Republican presidential primary. He did not endorse a candidate in the general election.[14]

Campaign finance summary


Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.


Charles D. Baker campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2014Massachusetts Governor/Lt. Governor*Won $10,046,479 N/A**
2010Massachusetts Governor/Lt. GovernorLost $16,644,890 N/A**
Grand total$26,691,369 N/A**
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

Noteworthy events

Stance on Syrian refugee resettlement (2015)

Main article: U.S. governors and their responses to Syrian refugees

Following the Paris terrorist attacks on November 13, 2015, in which members of the Islamic State (ISIS) killed at least 129 people and wounded more than 350, reports surfaced showing that one of the terrorists responsible for the attacks in Paris may have come to France posing as a Syrian refugee.[15] Many governors issued statements of support or opposition to President Obama’s plan to allow 10,000 new Syrian refugees into the United States. Baker had conditional opposition to the resettlement of Syrian refugees in the state of Massachusetts. He said:

I’m not interested in accepting refugees from Syria. I would need to know a lot more than I know now before I would agree to do anything. ... My view on this is that the safety and security of the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is my highest priority...I’m always going to be at least willing to hear what the federal government has to say...Hearing what they have to say doesn’t mean saying yes.[16]
—Gov. Charles D. Baker[17]

Ballot measure activity

The following table details Baker's ballot measure stances available on Ballotpedia:

Ballot measure support and opposition for Charles D. Baker
Ballot measure Year Position Status
Massachusetts Question 4, Remove Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status for Driver's License Applications Referendum (2022) 2022 Opposed[18]
Approveda Approved

Personal

Note: Please contact us if the personal information below requires an update.

Baker resides in Swampscott, Massachusetts, with his wife, Lauren. They have three children.[5]

See also

Massachusetts State Executive Elections News and Analysis
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Massachusetts State Executive Offices
Massachusetts State Legislature
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Party control of state government
State government trifectas
State of the state addresses
Partisan composition of governors

External links

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Footnotes

  1. The Boston Globe, "Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker says he won't seek reelection," December 1, 2021
  2. 2.0 2.1 WCVB, "Gov. Charlie Baker takes oath of office," January 8, 2015
  3. Boston.com, "Republican Charles Baker to announce Mass. gubernatorial bid Wednesday," September 3, 2013
  4. Boston Globe, "Murray adds to the buzz over 2014 governor’s race," November 15, 2012
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 Mass.gov, "Charlie Baker," accessed May 7, 2021
  6. North Shore Magazine, "Charlie Baker: In The Red," April 3, 2010
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Vote Smart, "Charlie Baker's Biography," accessed May 7, 2021
  8. Boston.com, "Baker: Happy days, high expectations," October 3, 2010
  9. General Catalyst, "Charlie Baker," archived May 7, 2013
  10. The Phoenix, "The Gathering Storm," November 7, 2012
  11. Boston Globe, Baker holds off rival in GOP race for governor, March 22, 2014
  12. Boston.com, "Charlie Baker names Karyn Polito as his running mate," December 3, 2013
  13. The Enterprise, "Charlie Baker brings his campaign for governor to Brockton," October 10, 2013
  14. 14.0 14.1 WGBH, "Baker Takes Pass On Choice For President," October 14, 2020
  15. Washington Post, "Were Syrian refugees involved in the Paris attacks? What we know and don’t know," November 17, 2015
  16. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  17. CBS Boston, "Massachusetts Governor: No Syrian Refugees For Now," November 16, 2015
  18. Mass Live, "Gov. Charlie Baker says he will vote to repeal the immigrant driver’s license bill he vetoed this spring," August 25, 2022

Political offices
Preceded by
Deval Patrick (D)
Governor of Massachusetts
2015-2023
Succeeded by
Maura Healey (D)