Karen Baker (Virginia)

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Karen Baker (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Virginia's 9th Congressional District. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Baker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Karen Baker's career experience includes working as an administrative law judge. She earned a bachelor's degree from William Smith College in 1973 and a law degree from the Columbus School of Law in 1978.^[1]

Elections

2024

Virginia's 9th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Republican primary)

Virginia's 9th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 18 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 9

Incumbent H. Morgan Griffith defeated Karen Baker in the general election for U.S. House Virginia District 9 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	H. Morgan Griffith (R)	72.5	290,645
	Karen Baker (D)	27.3	109,570
	Other/Write-in votes	0.2	748

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 400,963
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

The Democratic primary election was canceled. Karen Baker advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Virginia District 9.

Republican primary election

The Republican primary election was canceled. Incumbent H. Morgan Griffith advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Virginia District 9.

Endorsements

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Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Baker in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Karen Baker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Baker's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Born and raised in the heartland of America, Karen’s journey from a small Midwestern town to the forefront of legal and healthcare advocacy showcases her dedication to fighting for those in need. A proud alumna of William Smith College with a degree in comparative religion, followed by earning a J.D. from Catholic University Law School, Baker has tirelessly worked to uphold the principles of fairness and equality. As a trial lawyer for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, she was a formidable force against discrimination, ensuring that all individuals, regardless of sex, race, or age, received justice.

Beyond her legal career, Baker served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration for 17 years, further solidifying her role as a champion for Americans' rights and needs. Her commitment to public service also extends into her personal life: Raising her son as a single mother and caring for her husband through a debilitating health battle, Karen’s experiences are deeply rooted in her understanding of the challenges facing families in the 9th District.

Transitioning from law to healthcare, Karen further demonstrated her commitment to serving her community by becoming a registered nurse and working in the intensive care unit of a small rural hospital. Her diverse background in legal advocacy and frontline healthcare uniquely positions her to address the vast array of issues facing residents of Southwest Virginia.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Early Childhood Education and Daycare: Spaces in accredited daycare centers are sorely lacking throughout the 9th District. Increasing the number of programs and the rate at which those resources are used by rural families is essential to the health and economic outcomes of SWVA families. “Not all public schools in Virginia offer pre-school. Head Start is a federally funded program that seeks to fill some of those gaps, but there is a critical need for more affordable childcare for families across the income spectrum and with multiple young children,” said Baker. A family of four with an infant and preschooler making $67,000 per year (225% Federal Poverty Level) will spend 30% of their annual income on childcare.
Healthcare: Too many rural people do not live close enough to hospitals and critical care units to ensure positive healthcare outcomes. Healthcare, like education, should not depend on your zip code. We need to expand the Federal PACE program which has been so successful in allowing seniors to age safely in place. Baker wants to scale programs like this up and tailor them to other rural areas. “It can be used as a model for an All-inclusive Family Care Center (AFCC) that will be unique to rural communities. Providing comprehensive healthcare from birth to death in rural areas where geography can be a barrier, will be a priority for me in Washington.”
Agriculture: Small family farms need access to markets and processing facilities usually closed to smaller farmers. “I will increase the number of USDA Inspectors and decentralize processing plants with regional abattoirs.” Baker says “opening markets up to smaller farmers is good for our farmers and ultimately for grocery prices. Bigger doesn’t always mean better, especially in rural areas. We aim to keep wages and profits in our local economy, not in shareholder dividends on Wall Street".

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about affordable and accessible childcare and healthcare. I was a nurse for many years and I saw the challenges that rural Southwest Virginians faced on a day to day basis. We must fix and expand our healthcare system in rural areas.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Compassion is fundamental. This means having genuine empathy for the struggles and challenges faced by working women and families. A compassionate leader strives to understand diverse perspectives and is motivated by a desire to improve the lives of their constituents. This involves supporting policies that provide expanding healthcare access, and educational opportunities.

An ideal candidate is genuinely in it to serve the people, not for personal enrichment or career advancement. Their primary motivation should be to make a positive impact in their community and country. This is demonstrated through their dedication to public service, consistent outreach, and active engagement with the people in their District.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Members of Congress swear to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. All of it. You don't get to cherry pick the Constitution. For a member of the House of Representatives, the core responsibilities revolve fundamentally around serving the people and diligently addressing the needs of their constituents. Representatives are elected to act as the voice of their local communities in the federal government, ensuring that their constituents' interests and concerns are heard and addressed in national legislation. This involves crafting, debating, and voting on laws that can profoundly impact everyday life—from healthcare and education to economic policy and national security. Additionally, representatives have a duty to assist constituents with federal issues, such as navigating government services or addressing grievances related to federal agencies. They must also stay accessible and responsive to the people in their districts through regular communication, town halls, and constituent services.

What legacy would you like to leave?

My ambition is to leave a legacy of meaningful change that positively impacts every voter in our community. I am committed to ensuring that our district's voice is heard loud and clear in Washington, focusing on revitalizing our economy, improving healthcare, and protecting our natural resources.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Compromise is not only necessary but also highly desirable for effective policymaking, especially in a diverse and politically complex landscape like the United States. The ability to find common ground through bipartisan efforts is fundamental to advancing legislation that serves the broad interests of the American people.

In the context of the U.S. Congress, where differing views reflect the varied priorities of the nation’s populace, compromise ensures that multiple perspectives are considered in the creation of laws. This approach helps in producing balanced policies that are more comprehensive and sustainable. It also prevents gridlock, which can stall important legislative action needed to address pressing issues.

Compromise does not mean abandoning one's values but rather working within a framework that respects different ideologies and finds solutions that most parties can agree on. It’s about the pragmatic evaluation of possible benefits against ideological purity and striving for progress rather than perfection.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

No one who asks for the public's trust can be other than fully transparent. I will happily disclose my tax returns and I expect the people I represent to hold me accountable for every action I take on their behalf.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Baker’s campaign website stated the following:

“

Good Jobs & a Strong Economy

Karen Baker believes that every person in Southwest Virginia deserves access to well-paying jobs that offer a path to advancement. To achieve this, she will:

Support Small Business: Strengthen local small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy, with tax incentives, review of regulatory burdens, and greater access to development programs and grants.
Promote Skills Training: Expand vocational training and apprenticeship programs in high-demand fields such as healthcare and technology, ensuring our workforce is prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.
Invest in Infrastructure: Push for significant investment in our infrastructure—improving roads, bridges, and broadband connectivity—to create jobs, enhance business efficiency, and attract new industries to our region.

Affordable Housing

In the 9th District, the strength of our communities is reflected in the homes where our families, friends, and neighbors can thrive. Karen Baker understands that affordable housing is not just a basic need—it's a right. Here's how Karen plans to make affordable housing a reality for more families in our region:

Increase Funding for Affordable Housing: Advocate for increased federal funding for the construction and maintenance of affordable housing units. This includes supporting initiatives like the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) to encourage private investment in affordable housing.
Promote Rural Housing Initiatives: Work on tailored solutions that address the specific needs of rural communities in the 9th District, ensuring that federal housing policies are flexible enough to meet diverse local needs.
Improve Housing Quality: Advocate for policies that ensure all housing, especially in economically disadvantaged areas, meets high safety and quality standards, along with funding to make that happen.
Improve Housing Quality: Advocate for policies that ensure all housing, especially in economically disadvantaged areas, meets high safety and quality standards, along with funding to make that happen.

Broadband for All

Access to reliable and fast internet is no longer a luxury—it's a necessity for education, business, and everyday life. In Congress, Karen Baker will fight to ensure every household in Southwest Virginia is connected:

Universal Broadband Access: Champion policies to expand broadband infrastructure to every corner of Southwest Virginia, ensuring rural and underserved areas receive the same quality of service as urban centers.
Affordable Internet Services: Work to drive down costs and increase competition among service providers, making internet access more affordable for all income levels, and reauthorize and increase discounting of internet service for income-limited families.
Support for Telemedicine and E-Learning: Promote the use of broadband for telemedicine and e-learning platforms, which are crucial for the health and education of our community, especially in areas that are geographically challenged.
Support for Telemedicine and E-Learning: Promote the use of broadband for telemedicine and e-learning platforms, which are crucial for the health and education of our community, especially in areas that are geographically challenged.

Support for Public Schools

Education is the cornerstone of opportunity. In Congress, Karen Baker will advocate tirelessly for the support and enhancement of our public schools in Southwest Virginia:

Increase Funding for Public Schools: Push for federal funding to ensure that rural schools have the resources they need to succeed, over and above Virginia funding formulas. Many of the schools in the 9th District are simply outdated and in need of critical renovations and the local tax base cannot meet the need.
Support for Teachers: Advocate for better pay and professional development opportunities for teachers, recognizing their vital role in shaping our children’s future.
Expand Access to Early Childhood Education: Work to make pre-K education accessible to all families, giving every child in our region a strong start in life.
Enhance STEM and Vocational Training: Promote STEM education and expand vocational training programs, preparing students for the demands of the modern workforce.

Universal Preschool

Every child deserves the best start in life, which begins with access to high-quality early childhood education. Karen Baker is committed to making universal preschool a reality for all families in Southwest Virginia:

Universal Access to Preschool: Advocate for federal and state funding to ensure that every 3- and 4-year-old in Southwest Virginia has access to free, high-quality preschool programs.
Support for Preschool Teachers: Push for initiatives to attract and retain skilled preschool teachers through competitive salaries and comprehensive professional development programs.
Infrastructure Investment: Work to secure funding for the construction and enhancement of preschool facilities, ensuring they are safe, welcoming, and conducive to learning.
Parents Matter: Champion policies that encourage parental involvement in preschool education, increasing the likelihood of successful education outcomes.

Increased Healthcare Access

Healthcare should be a right, not a privilege. Karen Baker is dedicated to expanding healthcare access to ensure that every resident of Southwest Virginia can receive the care they need:

Access to Healthcare in Rural Areas: Many rural residents live too far from hospitals and critical care units, negatively impacting healthcare outcomes. Karen Baker believes that access to healthcare should not be determined by one's zip code.
Expand the PACE Program: Karen Baker supports expanding the PACE program model, which can prove successful in delivering preventative health, affordable medication, and allowing seniors to age safely in their homes.
Creation of All-inclusive Family Care Centers (AFCC): Baker advocates for the development of AFCCs, public health care tailored to meet the unique needs of rural communities. These centers would provide comprehensive healthcare services from birth to death, overcoming geographical barriers in rural areas.

Support for Seniors

Seniors have contributed a lifetime of work and wisdom to our community, and they deserve to live their later years with dignity and security. Karen Baker is committed to ensuring that all seniors in Southwest Virginia have the support they need:

Strengthen Social Security and Medicare: Advocate for policies that protect and enhance Social Security and Medicare, ensuring these programs remain solvent and capable of meeting the needs of our aging population.
Expand Access to Home-Based and Community Services: Push for more federal funding for programs like PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) to allow more seniors to age in place safely with Meals on Wheels, nurse visitation, and necessary home renovations.
Affordable Prescription Medications: Continue the work of lowering the cost of all prescription medications, making them more accessible to seniors on fixed incomes.
Support for Caregivers: Promote policies that provide support and resources to caregivers, recognizing their critical role in the healthcare system and providing them with the assistance they need to care for our elderly.

Bipartisan Cooperation

Effective governance requires collaboration across the aisle. Karen Baker is committed to working with colleagues from both parties to achieve results that benefit all constituents in Southwest Virginia:

Building Rural Consensus: Members of Congress from rural districts need to band together to amplify all of our constituents’ voices.
Support Bipartisan Legislation: Prioritize sponsorship and support for bipartisan bills that address key issues such as infrastructure, healthcare, and education, ensuring these initiatives benefit from broad consensus.
Transparency and Accountability: Commit to transparency in legislative processes to build trust among all parties and constituents, ensuring that actions taken in Congress are in the public’s best interest.

Free Trade School Education

Investing in vocational education is essential for building a robust workforce and fueling economic growth. Karen Baker is committed to making trade school education accessible to everyone in the 9th District:

Tuition-Free Trade Schools: Advocate for federal and state funding to make trade school education tuition-free for more residents of Southwest Virginia, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder career advancement.
Partnerships with Industry: Establish partnerships with existing local industries to align trade school programs with the current job market, ensuring students gain relevant skills that lead directly to employment, and network for new industry and new jobs.
Expand Apprenticeship Programs: Support the expansion of apprenticeship programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, offering a direct path to employment in skilled trades.
Support for Non-Traditional Students: Implement additional support services for non-traditional students, including older adults, returnees, and veterans, to ensure they have the resources and flexibility needed to succeed in trade school.

Family Issues

Ensuring the well-being of women and families is a cornerstone of a healthy society. Paid maternity leave, comprehensive women's health care, and the respect for women's reproductive choices are essential components of this support system:

Paid Maternity Leave: The Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) provides up to 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave — and only for entities with 50 or more employees. This is unacceptable. If we want to support women and families, paid leave must be available to every family. Infant bonding, breast feeding, and a mothers recovery from childbirth demand at least three or four months of paid leave. The federal government must fund this and all Americans must support motherhood and infants.
Women's Health Issues: The 9th District is a maternity care desert. Medicaid rolls are being reduced and birth control costs are high. Further, preventative care that supports healthy families is essential. We need decentralized, competent, women's healthcare.
Women's Choice: Women's choices must be respected. This is a state issue and Virginia has voted to respect women's reproductive choices.

Coal Miners

Supporting the coal miners is crucial for the economic stability and growth of our region:

Metallurgical Coal: In our mountains, we have metallurgical coal still and this type of coal is necessary for steel production. Steel production is simply a national security issue and we need more steel production in this country.
Black Lung Benefits: The black lung benefits process needs overhaul to be streamlined to dramatically reduce wait times. Exported coal still needs to have excise taxes assessed to support black lung benefits.
Pro-Act: Karen Baker supports the pro-act. the United Mine Workers of America, and the need to bring more good paying jobs to the 9th District.
Support for Non-Traditional Students: Implement additional support services for non-traditional students, including older adults, returnees, and veterans, to ensure they have the resources and flexibility needed to succeed in trade school.

Agriculture

Preserving the agricultural heritage of the 9th District is vital for our community's sustainability and economic prosperity:

Family Farms: Family farms are the backbone of agriculture in the 9th District. They enhance our regions food security and are stewards of the land. However, family farms are disappearing as a result of profitability and the younger generations leaving the district.
Decentralized Slaughterhouses: The 9th district needs decentralized slaughterhouses with USDA inspectors, so that small farmers can market their meat more effectively.
Regenerative Agriculture: The 9th District farmers need support for regenerative farming practices that reduce costs through bio-char fertilizer production, paid through USDA grants.

^[2]

”

—Karen Baker’s campaign website (2024)^[3]

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.

Karen Baker campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	U.S. House Virginia District 9	Lost general	$223,833	$224,246
Grand total			$223,833	$224,246
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

U.S. House Virginia District 9

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 17, 2024
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Karen Baker’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed July 24, 2024

[show]

Virginia's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Tim Kaine (D)

Mark Warner (D)

Representatives

District 1

Rob Wittman (R)

District 2

Jennifer Kiggans (R)

District 3

Bobby Scott (D)

District 4

Jennifer McClellan (D)

District 5

John McGuire (R)

District 6

Benjamin Lee Cline (R)

District 7

Eugene Vindman (D)

District 8

Donald Sternoff Beyer (D)

District 9

H. Morgan Griffith (R)

District 10

Suhas Subramanyam (D)

District 11

Gerald Edward Connolly (D)

Democratic Party (8)

Republican Party (5)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 17, 2024

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] Karen Baker’s campaign website, “Issues,” accessed July 24, 2024

[1]

[2]

[3]

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Karen Baker (Virginia)

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for U.S. House Virginia District 9

Democratic primary election

Republican primary election

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign website

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

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