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Thomas Baker (Alaska politician)

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Thomas Baker
Ikaaq
Baker in 2024
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 40th district
Assumed office
November 13, 2023
Appointed byMike Dunleavy
Preceded byJosiah Patkotak
Personal details
Born1995 (age 28–29)
Kotzebue, Alaska, U.S.
Political partyIndependent (2024–present)
Other political
affiliations		Republican (before 2024)
RelativesJohn Baker (uncle)
EducationDartmouth College
WebsiteOfficial website

Thomas C. Baker (born 1995) is an American politician from Alaska who represents District 40 in the Alaska House of Representatives.

Early life and education

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Baker was born in Kotzebue, Alaska in 1995 and is the son of lobbyist Andy Baker. He graduated from Kotzebue High School in 2013, going on to obtain a bachelor's degree in English from Dartmouth College in 2017.[1][2]

Early career

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Baker has served on the Kotzebue city and tribal councils. In 2020, he unsuccessfully ran for the state senate against incumbent Donny Olson. At the time of his appointment to the House, Baker was chair of the regional advisory council for the Federal Subsistence Board and working as a construction manager for the Kikiktagruk Inupiat Corporation.[2]

Legislative career

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Baker was appointed on November 8, 2023 by governor Mike Dunleavy to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Josiah Patkotak, who left the House after being elected as mayor of the North Slope Borough.[3] On November 13, Baker was sworn in after being confirmed by House Republicans.[4]

In March 2024, the Legislature passed a resolution introduced by Baker urging the withdrawal of a proposed Bureau of Land Management rule restricting development in large portions of the National Petroleum Reserve—Alaska.[5] This resolution was praised by the members of Alaska's congressional delegation.[6]

On March 18, 2024, after several meetings with the governor over the previous week, Baker voted against overriding Governor Dunleavy's veto of a bipartisan education funding bill, citing the need for other funding in his district and the governor's ability to veto specific funding from the budget regardless.[7] Baker had previously voted in favor of the education bill.[8]

Baker represents district 40, the northernmost legislative district in the country, making him a member of the Bush Caucus. Baker has often voted in opposition to the non-Republican members of the caucus, swinging the outcome of votes on education and causing friction within the group.[9]

Baker has proposed an amendment to the Alaska Constitution that would allow the Legislature to establish a preference giving priority to rural subsistence harvesters during resource shortages. The measure could bring Alaska into compliance with the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act, potentially allowing the state to assume sole fish and game management authority across all of Alaska.[10] This proposal drew support from Alaska Department of Fish and Game commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang, but was criticized Alaska Federation of Natives president Julie Kitka. NANA Corporation and Maniilaq Association issued a joint statement saying that they could not support the proposal and that Baker had not adequately consulted his constituents.[11]

In 2024, Baker, facing an election challenge from Democratic candidates Saima Chase and Robyn Burke, changed his party affiliation to Independent.[12]

Electoral history

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Alaska Senate, District T, Republican primary results, 2020[13]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Thomas Baker 674 60.61
Republican Calvin Moto II 438 39.39
Total votes 1,112 100.0
Alaska Senate, District T, election results, 2020[14]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Donny Olson (incumbent) 6,604 65.29
Republican Thomas Baker 3,422 33.83
Write-in Write-ins 89 0.88
Total votes 10,115 100.0

References

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  1. ^ "Thomas C. Baker – Senate District T Senator - Republican Nominee" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on June 26, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Samuels, Iris (November 8, 2023). "Dunleavy selects Republican to succeed outgoing independent member of Alaska House". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on November 15, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  3. ^ Early, Wesley (November 8, 2023). "Alaska governor names Thomas Baker to fill vacated seat in Legislature". KTOO. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  4. ^ "Alaska House Republicans confirm Thomas Baker to fill vacancy left when independent Rep. Patkotak resigned". Anchorage Daily News. November 14, 2023. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
  5. ^ "BILL HISTORY/ACTION FOR LEGISLATURE". Alaska Legislature.
  6. ^ "Alaska Legislature Overwhelmingly Passes Resolution Opposing BLM's Proposed NPR-A Rule". U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska. March 15, 2024. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  7. ^ Maguire, Sean; Samuels, Iris (March 18, 2024). "Alaska lawmakers fail by one vote to override Dunleavy veto of education bill". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on March 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Maguire, Sean (February 22, 2024). "Alaska House passes bipartisan education bill with historic boost in school funding". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on March 6, 2024.
  9. ^ Brooks, James (2024-03-29). "Friction affects Alaska's influential Bush Caucus • Alaska Beacon". Alaska Beacon. Retrieved 2024-05-25.
  10. ^ DeMarban, Alex (March 28, 2024). "Alaska lawmaker proposes constitutional amendment to unify subsistence management under the state". Anchorage Daily News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "Alaska News Nightly: Thursday, April 4, 2024". Alaska Public Media. April 4, 2024. Archived from the original on April 6, 2024.
  12. ^ Ruskin, Liz (August 5, 2024). "How to run in a House district the size of Germany? Pickled whale might help". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved August 8, 2024.
  13. ^ "2020 Primary Election Summary Report" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. August 31, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "2020 General Election Summary Report" (PDF). Alaska Division of Elections. November 30, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on September 3, 2023.
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