Rushern Baker

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][2]

Rushern Baker
7th Executive of Prince George's County
In office
December 6, 2010 – December 3, 2018
Preceded byJack B. Johnson
Succeeded byAngela Alsobrooks
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 22B district
In office
August 11, 1994 – January 8, 2003
Preceded byPaul G. Pinsky
Succeeded byTawanna P. Gaines
Anne Healey
Justin Ross
Personal details
Born
Rushern Leslie Baker III

(1958-10-24) October 24, 1958
Valdosta, Georgia, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseChrista Beverly (d. 2021)
EducationHoward University (BA, JD)
Signature

Early life and education

Baker was born in Valdosta, Georgia, and grew up in Springfield, Massachusetts.[3][4][5] Baker's father, a Green Beret[5] who served in the Vietnam War,[6] mother, and 3 siblings lived on an Army base in Okinawa, Japan for a time before settling in Massachusetts.[7] Baker recalls having learning struggles in school.[8] He received his bachelor's degree and Juris Doctor from Howard University in 1982 and 1986, respectively.[5][8][9]

Career

Maryland House of Delegates
Baker at the construction of MGM National Harbor

Baker represented legislative district 22B in the Maryland House of Delegates from 1994 to 2003, where he served on various subcommittees and task forces.[8][10][11] He also served as executive director for the Community Teachers Institute, located in Lanham, Maryland.[4][11]

Prince George's County Executive

In 2002 and 2006, Baker ran unsuccessfully for the office of Prince George's County Executive.[8] In 2006, he was narrowly defeated by the incumbent County Executive, Jack B. Johnson in the primary election.[12]

In November 2010, Baker won the election to replace Johnson, who was term-limited.[13] Baker was sworn in as County Executive on December 6, 2010.[14]

Baker served as President of County Executives of America from 2014 to 2015.[15] He was named Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine in 2015.[16]

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.[17]

2018 Maryland gubernatorial election campaign
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.[18] 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
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.[19] His running mate was Nancy Navarro, a member of the Montgomery County Council.[20] He suspended his campaign on June 10, 2022.[2]

Personal life

Baker met his wife, Christa Beverly, as an undergraduate at Howard University in 1978.[4] 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.[3][5]

In 2010, Baker's wife was diagnosed with Early-onset Alzheimer's disease.[8][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.[22] 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
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 1,141 50
Democratic David Bird 705 31
Democratic John Pepper 439 19
Maryland House of Delegates District 22B General Election, 1994
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 3,244 100
Maryland House of Delegates District 22B Primary Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 1,139 82
Democratic John Pepper 249 18
Maryland House of Delegates District 22B General Election, 1998
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 4,630 83
Republican Peter Justesen 923 17
Prince George's County Executive Primary Election, 2002
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack B. Johnson 39,503 37
Democratic M.H. "Jim" Estepp 20,748 19
Democratic C. Anthony Muse 19,976 19
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 13,344 13
Democratic Major Riddick 13,102 12
Prince George's County Executive Primary Election, 2006
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Jack B. Johnson 52,529 53
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 47,431 47
Prince George's County Executive Primary Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 41,352 44
Democratic Michael A. Jackson 30,788 33
Democratic Samuel H. Dean 11,728 12
Democratic Gerron Levi 6,983 7
Democratic Henry C. Turner, Jr. 3,272 3
Prince George's County Executive General Election, 2010
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 206,924 99
Other/Write-ins Other/Write-ins 1,543 1
Prince George's County Executive General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 195,849 99
Other/Write-ins Other/Write-ins 1,668 1
Republican Roussan Etienne, Jr. 442 0
Independent Aliya Mullins 164 0
Independent James J. Carpenter 19 0
2018 Maryland Gubernatorial Primary Election, 2018
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Ben Jealous 231,895 40
Democratic Rushern L. Baker III 171,697 29
Democratic Jim Shea 48,647 8
Democratic Krish Vignarajah 48,042 8
Democratic Richard Madaleno 34,184 6
Democratic Valerie Ervin 18,851 3
Democratic Alec Ross 13,780 2

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