Rushern Baker Explained

Rushern Baker
Office:7th Executive of Prince George's County
Term Start:December 6, 2010
Term End:December 3, 2018
Predecessor:Jack B. Johnson
Successor:Angela Alsobrooks
State Delegate1:Maryland
District1:22B
Term Start1:August 11, 1994
Term End1:January 8, 2003
Predecessor1:Paul G. Pinsky
Successor1:Tawanna P. Gaines
Anne Healey
Justin Ross
Birth Date:24 October 1958
Birth Place:Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
Party:Democratic
Spouse:Christa Beverly (died 2021)
Signature:Rushern Baker signature.jpg
Education:Howard University (BA, JD)
Birth Name:Rushern Leslie Baker III

Rushern Leslie Baker III (born October 24, 1958) is an American lawyer and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he was elected county executive of Prince George's County, Maryland in 2010 and won re-election in 2014. In 2018 and 2022, he mounted an unsuccessful primary campaign to become Governor of Maryland.[1]

Early life and education

Baker was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts.[2] [3] [4] Baker's father, a Green Beret who served in the Vietnam War,[5] mother, and 3 siblings lived on an Army base in Okinawa, Japan for a time before settling in Massachusetts.[6] Baker recalls having learning struggles in school.[7] He received his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from Howard University in 1982 and 1986, respectively.[8]

Career

Maryland House of Delegates

Baker represented legislative district 22B in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994 to 2003, where he served on various subcommittees and task forces.[9] [10] He also served as executive director for the Community Teachers Institute, located in Lanham, Maryland.

Prince George's County Executive

In 2002 and 2006, Baker ran unsuccessfully for the office of Prince George's County Executive. In 2006, he was narrowly defeated by the incumbent County Executive, Jack B. Johnson in the primary election.[11]

In November 2010, Baker won the election to replace Johnson, who was term-limited.[12] Baker was sworn in as County Executive on December 6, 2010.[13]

Baker served as President of County Executives of America from 2014 to 2015.[14] He was named Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine in 2015.[15]

As County Executive, Baker led land and real estate purchases to move county agencies to Largo, Maryland from the County Seat of Upper Marlboro, Maryland.[16]

2018 Maryland gubernatorial election campaign

See main article: 2018 Maryland gubernatorial election. On June 21, 2017, Baker announced his candidacy for Governor of Maryland in the 2018 election, currently held by Larry Hogan (R). Baker's ticket included Baltimore attorney Elizabeth Embry.[17] He was endorsed by the Washington Post, but lost the Democratic primary to Ben Jealous, 40 percent to 29 percent.[1]

2022 Maryland gubernatorial election campaign

See main article: 2022 Maryland gubernatorial election. On April 8, 2021, Baker announced his candidacy for Governor of Maryland in the 2022 election, which will be vacated by Larry Hogan (R), who is term limited, in 2023.[18] His running mate was Nancy Navarro, a member of the Montgomery County Council.[19] He suspended his campaign on June 10, 2022.[20]

Personal life

Baker met his wife, Christa Beverly, as an undergraduate at Howard University in 1978. Baker is a member of Gamma Pi chapter of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, as is Jack B. Johnson who preceded Baker as County Executive prior to Johnson's arrest.[21] The Bakers lived in Washington, D.C., briefly, before settling in Cheverly, MD, where they raised three children, including son Rushern Baker IV.

In 2010, Baker's wife was diagnosed with Early-onset Alzheimer's disease.[22] The family decided to speak publicly about her diagnosis in 2012 in order to increase awareness for the disease and advocate for greater funding for medical research. Baker is an active member of the Alzheimer's Association.[23] In 2016, Baker got a tattoo of her initials and the logo for the Alzheimer's Association on his arm.[24]

In 2021, Baker's wife Christa died due to Alzheimer's disease,[25] making him a widower.

Electoral history

Maryland House of Delegates District 22B Primary Election, 1994
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III1,14150
DemocraticDavid Bird70531
DemocraticJohn Pepper43919
Maryland House of Delegates District 22B General Election, 1994
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III3,244100
Maryland House of Delegates District 22B Primary Election, 1998
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III1,13982
DemocraticJohn Pepper24918
Maryland House of Delegates District 22B General Election, 1998
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III4,63083
RepublicanPeter Justesen92317
Prince George's County Executive Primary Election, 2002
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJack B. Johnson39,50337
DemocraticM.H. "Jim" Estepp20,74819
DemocraticC. Anthony Muse19,97619
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III13,34413
DemocraticMajor Riddick13,10212
Prince George's County Executive Primary Election, 2006
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticJack B. Johnson52,52953
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III47,43147
Prince George's County Executive Primary Election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III41,35244
DemocraticMichael A. Jackson30,78833
DemocraticSamuel H. Dean11,72812
DemocraticGerron Levi6,9837
DemocraticHenry C. Turner, Jr.3,2723
Prince George's County Executive General Election, 2010
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III206,92499
Other/Write-insOther/Write-ins1,5431
Prince George's County Executive General Election, 2014
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III195,84999
Other/Write-insOther/Write-ins1,6681
RepublicanRoussan Etienne, Jr.4420
IndependentAliya Mullins1640
IndependentJames J. Carpenter190
2018 Maryland Gubernatorial Primary Election, 2018
PartyCandidateVotes%
DemocraticBen Jealous231,89540
DemocraticRushern L. Baker III171,69729
DemocraticJim Shea48,6478
DemocraticKrish Vignarajah48,0428
DemocraticRichard Madaleno34,1846
DemocraticValerie Ervin18,8513
DemocraticAlec Ross13,7802

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Maryland Primary Election Results. June 26, 2018. The New York Times.
  2. News: Hernández. Arelis R.. June 21, 2017. Rushern Baker, leader of Prince George's, to run for Md. governor in 2018. en-US. Washington Post. September 10, 2020. 0190-8286.
  3. News: Thomas-Lester. Avis. August 30, 2006. In Pr. George's, the Unknown vs. the Charmer. en-US. Washington Post. September 10, 2020. 0190-8286.
  4. News: Aizenman. Nurith C.. September 4, 2002. A Rising Star's Biggest Risk. en-US. Washington Post. September 10, 2020. 0190-8286.
  5. Web site: Cox. Erin. In governor's race, Democrat Rushern Baker says he turned around Prince George's and will do same for Maryland. September 10, 2020. The Baltimore Sun.
  6. Web site: Kearney. Reginald. June 22, 2017. Rushern Baker, leader of Prince George's, to run for Md. governor in 2018. September 10, 2020. Urban Sentinel. en-US.
  7. News: Hernández. Arelis R.. Rushern Baker: Economic success, political bruising as leader of Prince George's. en-US. Washington Post. September 10, 2020. 0190-8286.
  8. Web site: Paul. Pritha. June 21, 2017. Who Is Rushern Baker? Prince George's County Executive Running For Maryland Governor. September 10, 2020. International Business Times.
  9. Web site: Rushern L. Baker III . House of Delegates - Former Delegates . Maryland State Archives . November 13, 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101205051752/http://www.msa.md.gov/msa/mdmanual/06hse/former/html/msa12180.html . December 5, 2010 .
  10. News: Trejos. Nancy. May 1, 2003. Ex-Delegate Now Recruits Teachers. The Washington Post.
  11. News: Helderman. Rosalind S.. September 13, 2006. Johnson Claims Reelection Win. The Washington Post. en-US. September 10, 2020. 0190-8286.
  12. News: Rushern Baker's victory suggests wish for change in Prince George's . Miranda S. . Spivack . . September 16, 2010 . September 27, 2010 .
  13. News: At inauguration, Rushern Baker sees 'chance to get it right' in Prince George's . The Washington Post . Miranda S. . Spivack . Michael . DeBonis . Ovetta . Wiggins . December 7, 2010.
  14. Web site: DePuyt. Bruce. July 23, 2019. Rushern Baker, University of Maryland teaming up on leadership institute. September 10, 2020. WTOP. en.
  15. Web site: Rushern Baker III, Prince George's County, Md.. Governing.
  16. Web site: County HQ move to Largo still up in the air. PG Sentinel.
  17. Web site: Baker announces candidacy for Md. governor – Maryland Daily Record. Bryan P.. Sears.
  18. News: DePuyt . Bruce . Rushern Baker to Enter 2022 Race for Governor . November 20, 2021 . . April 8, 2021.
  19. News: DePuyt . Bruce . Rushern Baker Taps Nancy Navarro, Montgomery Councilmember, as Running Mate . November 20, 2021 . . October 12, 2021.
  20. News: DePuyt . Bruce . Rushern Baker Suspends Gubernatorial Campaign, Will Likely Endorse a Democratic Rival Soon . June 10, 2022 . . June 10, 2022.
  21. Web site: Omega Chapters of Prince George's County, MD. December 2, 2021. National Pan-Hellenic Council of Prince George's County.
  22. Web site: Weighing Politics At Work, Wife's Dementia At Home. NPR.org.
  23. News: Hernandez. Arelis. November 30, 2018. Rushern Baker's stubborn focus helped transform Prince George's County. The Washington Post.
  24. News: Hernández . Arelis R. . 2023-04-12 . This local politician just got a tattoo in honor of his wife . en-US . Washington Post . 2023-07-17 . 0190-8286.
  25. Web site: Gallagher. Julie. September 18, 2021. Christa Beverly Baker, wife of Md. gubernatorial candidate Rushern Baker, dies at 61. WTOP.com.