Rachel Baker

Rachel B. Baker (May 29, 1975) is a nurse and American politician who has served as a member of the Ohio House of Representatives since 2023. Representing the 27th district, Baker's constituency encompasses eastern Hamilton County, including portions of Cincinnati.

Early life and career
Baker earned a Bachelor of Science (in psychology) from the University of Michigan, as well as a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Cincinnati. She went on to receive a Masters of Social Work from the University of Michigan's Rackham Graduate School in 1999, and a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Cincinnati in 2006.

Baker is currently employeed by Cincinnati-based TriHealth Inc. as a Nurse Researcher. She also concurrently serves as an adjunct professor for the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing.

Ohio House of Representatives
With incumbent Representative Tom Brinkman unable to re-run due to term limits, Baker and four others sought to replace him. In the primary, Baker defeated former Cincinnati mayoral candidate Gavi Begtrup with 62% of the vote despite being outspent by an almost 3-to-1 ratio. Baker defeated anti-abortion activist Jenn Giroux with 56% of the vote in the general election and was sworn into the position on January 3rd, 2023.

Baker serves as the ranking member of the Aviation and Aerospace Committee, and as a member of the Behavioral Health, Health Provider Services, Public Health Policy, and Technology and Innovation Committees.

During her tenure, Baker has been an outspoken critic of the Forest Hills school district board, which she claims refused to meet with her due to her Democratic party affiliation. Baker previously ran to serve as a member of the board in 2021.