Raymond Baker (Pennsylvania)

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Raymond Baker

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Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 2, 2020

Education

Associate

College of Southern Maryland, 2012

Bachelor's

University of Baltimore, 2014

Law

Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson Law, 2017

Personal

Birthplace

Clinton, Md.

Religion

Catholic

Profession

Assistant District Attorney

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Raymond Baker (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives to represent District 127. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 2, 2020.

Baker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Raymond Baker was born in Clinton, Maryland. He earned an associate degree from the College of Southern Maryland in 2012, a bachelor's degree from the University of Baltimore in June 2014, and a law degree from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law in May 2017. Baker began working as an assistant district attorney for Berks County in August 2017. He has served as a dues-paying member of the NAACP, the Sunrise Movement, and Make the Road Pennsylvania as well as a member of Indivisible Berks and the Berks County Democratic Committee. He has also served as treasurer of the City of Reading Democratic Committee.

Elections

2020

See also: Pennsylvania House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 127

Manuel Guzman defeated Vincent Gagliardo Jr. in the general election for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 127 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Manuel Guzman (D)	72.9	11,786
	Submit photo	Vincent Gagliardo Jr. (R)	27.1	4,372

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,158
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 127

Manuel Guzman defeated Robin Costenbader-Jacobson, Robert Melendez, Raymond Baker, and Cesar Cepeda in the Democratic primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 127 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Manuel Guzman	41.6	1,672
		Robin Costenbader-Jacobson	25.2	1,012
		Robert Melendez	16.7	673
	Submit photo	Raymond Baker	11.8	474
	Submit photo	Cesar Cepeda	4.7	188

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,019
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Abraham J. Cepeda (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 127

Vincent Gagliardo Jr. defeated Branden Moyer in the Republican primary for Pennsylvania House of Representatives District 127 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Vincent Gagliardo Jr.	51.5	448
		Branden Moyer	48.5	422

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 870
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Raymond Baker completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. 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.

I'm a twenty-seven year old Asisstant District Attorney in Berks County specializing in DUI and Addiction (Specifically DUI) Treatment Court. I have been employed by the DA's Office since my Graduation from the Dickinson School of Law in 2017. Before that I attended University at the University of Baltimore where I majored in Criminal Justice, and Community College at the College of Southern Maryland where I graduated in 2014 & 2012 Respectively. I'm the son of working middle class parents a garbage man turned cop and house-wife turned teacher.

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?

• We must fight to save our planet at the State Level, I will fight to close all Fossil Fuel power plants by 2040 and ban Fracking to guarantee this
• We must fight for better education for poor & urban students. I will fight to restructure the school districts so they are equal in size and in funding
• We must fight to reinvigorate our small cities. I will push for my Small Cities Initiative to empower mayors, City Councils, and City Managers so they can fight back against decades old malaise that's taken over cities like Reading

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm must interested in Climate Change, School District Structure, Criminal Law Reform, and Poverty Reform.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to former President Jimmy Carter above all. Jimmy Carter embodied everything the Democratic Party used to represent and what we need to get back to. President Carter wasn't afraid over 40 Years ago to tell America it's time to get our house in order and save the planet, sadly the nation didn't listen. He not only walked the walk, and talked the talk. He didn't just retire to an estate to play golf, rub elbows with the elite, and give expensive speaking tours. President Carter has eliminate the Guinea Worm, built homes, and elevated the 3rd World nations as best he could. In times like these it's important to remember the good ones. Jimmy Carter is what Americans imagine themselves to be at their best. And I try to follow his example as best I can and hope with whatever gifts I've been given I can help those around me.

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

Honesty, Candor, and a Steadfastness in your beliefs.

However, on the final one an elected official must be willing to learn from what they are wrong about. There's nothing wrong with believing something in error and changing your mind, so long as it is for truth not to win votes.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

My ability to be honest with everyone I know will make me good in that the people will know where I stand on certain issues and that those will be the issues I

My understanding of my own faults, so that I will be able to surround myself with people who see them and can make sure that those faults do not harm my district and my city.

My passion and ability to fight forever when I think I'm right. Since I was a child I've had the ability to stand my ground whenever I believed I was in the right. No one to my left or right in Harrisburg will be able to shake that from me. Even if it makes me unpopular I will stand by that.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

The Impeachment of President Bill Clinton. I was 7 when it began.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I worked at the 7-11 Convenience Store as a Cashier/Clerk for a little over a year when I was 16.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Breakin' the Chains of Love - Fitz & the Tantrums

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

In Pennsylvania there is not much of a difference between the two chambers. The largest difference is the size and years between elections as unlike the Congress both deal with the budget. However, similar to the Federal Government the House must draft articles of impeachment and vote to impeach while the Senate will hold the trial to remove.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think that it can be helpful, but it is always good to have other experience and other backgrounds. As one's own biases and backgrounds prevent you from seeing everything necessary

What do you perceive to be your state’s greatest challenges over the next decade?

We must deal with the crisis of Climate Change as it is already effecting the Commonwealth and it's effects on our largest city in Philadelphia will be massive as the sea levels rise. We must also deal with the growing wealth inequality that is being exacerbated by the poor tax structure that benefits the wealthy

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and the state legislature?

I believe the ideal relationship is one of professional cooperation. Similar to my work as a prosecutor things work out best when you get along with cordially and respectfully with defense counsel. We won't always agree on everything and will but heads in cases that will lead to trials and hearings, but at the end of the day there is a level of respect enjoyed by all parties.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

I believe it should be a goal of all legislators to try their best to develop good relationships across the aisle and within one's party. However, in modern times to me this looks to be more and more of an impossibility. Within one's party the benefit will be people better listening to your needs and working with you, across the aisle it can be vital to pick up votes. However, unlike statements from some politicians I will always work to replace my Republican colleagues with Democratic ones every election without question.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Urban Affairs - As I will be representing the 5th largest city in the Commonwealth

Government Oversight - As I would like to get into the nitty-gritty of what can be done to improve the state legislative structure

Education - As I will be fighting to better guarantee equal education and to fight the structure of charter schools in the Commonwealth

Judiciary - As I work in Criminal Law and could bring my experience to better create laws to rehabilitate those who have committed crimes.

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the legislature, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

While I would appreciate and enjoy such a role I would be a freshman legislator. I would push to empower the younger, diverse, and progressive members of our caucus as Millenials and Gen - Xers must take the reigns of power to lead the Country and the Commonwealth into a brighter future that will protect all people.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I would model myself after Senator Bernie Sanders. He is a man who has done everything to fight for working people of all backgrounds for decades, whether popular or not. He kept fighting year in and year out for everything from straightening Unions, protecting women's rights, to LGBTQ protections even back in the 90s. It would be my goal to stand hard and fast at the progressive vision of our future whether popular with the Democratic Party or not.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Maybe in the future someday, I won't rule it out, since I would only be 28 when sworn into office, but much like I couldn't have predicted I'd be running for office in 2020 ten years ago, I won't predict where I'll be in 2030.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

While working the polls on Election Day in 2019 I met a young man by the name of Luis. He was being paid to work the Polls for the Leinbach/Rivera Commissioner campaign. While we spoke, he told me his dream of opening up a business here in our city and that's why he was going to school. What I realized while talking to him is that he had been funneled by his charter school into a private community college which charged way more for a two-year degree than the local public community college down the block. What bothered me is members of our own community riddled this man with 4 times the debt I received in attending community college because it offered a benefit to that charter school. A young man from Reading with all the dreams in the world we want to see in our young boys is going to be tens of thousands of dollars behind because someone wanted to make a quick buck off his education.

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.

See also

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Joanna McClinton

Majority Leader:Kerry Benninghoff

Minority Leader:Jesse Topper

Representatives

District 1

Patrick Harkins (D)

District 2

Robert Merski (D)

District 3

Ryan Bizzarro (D)

District 4

Jake Banta (R)

District 5

Eric Weaknecht (R)

District 6

Bradley Roae (R)

District 7

Parke Wentling (R)

District 8

Aaron Bernstine (R)

District 9

Marla Brown (R)

District 10

Amen Brown (D)

District 11

Marci Mustello (R)

District 12

Stephenie Scialabba (R)

District 13

John Lawrence (R)

District 14

Roman Kozak (R)

District 15

Joshua Kail (R)

District 16

Robert Matzie (D)

District 17

Tim Bonner (R)

District 18

K.C. Tomlinson (R)

District 19

Aerion Abney (D)

District 20

Emily Kinkead (D)

District 21

Lindsay Powell (D)

District 22

Joshua Siegel (D)

District 23

Dan Frankel (D)

District 24

La'Tasha Mayes (D)

District 25

Brandon Markosek (D)

District 26

Paul Friel (D)

District 27

Daniel Deasy (D)

District 28

Jeremy Shaffer (R)

District 29

Tim Brennan (D)

District 30

Arvind Venkat (D)

District 31

Perry Warren (D)

District 32

Joe McAndrew (D)

District 33

Mandy Steele (D)

District 34

Abigail Salisbury (D)

District 35

Dan Goughnour (D)

District 36

Jessica Benham (D)

District 37

Mindy Fee (R)

District 38

John Inglis (D)

District 39

Andrew Kuzma (R)

District 40

Natalie Mihalek (R)

District 41

Brett Miller (R)

District 42

Dan Miller (D)

District 43

Keith Greiner (R)

District 44

Valerie Gaydos (R)

District 45

Anita Kulik (D)

District 46

Jason Ortitay (R)

District 47

Joe D'Orsie (R)

District 48

Timothy O'Neal (R)

District 49

Ismail Smith-Wade-El (D)

District 50

Bud Cook (R)

District 51

Charity Grimm Krupa (R)

District 52

Ryan Warner (R)

District 53

Steven Malagari (D)

District 54

Greg Scott (D)

District 55

Jill Cooper (R)

District 56

Brian Rasel (R)

District 57

Eric Nelson (R)

District 58

Eric Davanzo (R)

District 59

Leslie Rossi (R)

District 60

Abby Major (R)

District 61

Liz Hanbidge (D)

District 62

James Struzzi (R)

District 63

Josh Bashline (R)

District 64

R. James (R)

District 65

Kathy Rapp (R)

District 66

Brian Smith (R)

District 67

Martin Causer (R)

District 68

Clint Owlett (R)

District 69

Carl Metzgar (R)

District 70

Matthew Bradford (D)

District 71

Jim Rigby (R)

District 72

Frank Burns (D)

District 73

Dallas Kephart (R)

District 74

Dan Williams (D)

District 75

Mike Armanini (R)

District 76

Stephanie Borowicz (R)

District 77

Scott Conklin (D)

District 78

Jesse Topper (R)

District 79

Louis Schmitt (R)

District 80

Scott Barger (R)

District 81

Richard Irvin (R)

District 82

Paul Takac (D)

District 83

Jamie Flick (R)

District 84

Joe Hamm (R)

District 85

David Rowe (R)

District 86

Perry Stambaugh (R)

District 87

Thomas Kutz (R)

District 88

Sheryl Delozier (R)

District 89

Rob Kauffman (R)

District 90

Chad Reichard (R)

District 91

Dan Moul (R)

District 92

Marc Anderson (R)

District 93

Mike Jones (R)

District 94

Wendy Fink (R)

District 95

Carol Hill-Evans (D)

District 96

Nikki Rivera (D)

District 97

Steven Mentzer (R)

District 98

Tom Jones (R)

District 99

David Zimmerman (R)

District 100

Bryan Cutler (R)

District 101

John Schlegel (R)

District 102

Russell Diamond (R)

District 103

Nate Davidson (D)

District 104

Dave Madsen (D)

District 105

Justin Fleming (D)

District 106

Thomas Mehaffie (R)

District 107

Joanne Stehr (R)

District 108

Michael Stender (R)

District 109

Robert Leadbeter (R)

District 110

Tina Pickett (R)

District 111

Jonathan Fritz (R)

District 112

Kyle Mullins (D)

District 113

Kyle Donahue (D)

District 114

Bridget Malloy Kosierowski (D)

District 115

Maureen Madden (D)

District 116

Dane Watro (R)

District 117

Jamie Walsh (R)

District 118

James Haddock (D)

District 119

Alec Ryncavage (R)

District 120

Brenda Pugh (R)

District 121

Eddie Pashinski (D)

District 122

Doyle Heffley (R)

District 123

Tim Twardzik (R)

District 124

Jamie Barton (R)

District 125

Joe Kerwin (R)

District 126

Jacklyn Rusnock (D)

District 127

Manuel Guzman (D)

District 128

Mark Gillen (R)

District 129

Johanny Cepeda-Freytiz (D)

District 130

David Maloney (R)

District 131

Milou Mackenzie (R)

District 132

Michael Schlossberg (D)

District 133

Jeanne McNeill (D)

District 134

Peter Schweyer (D)

District 135

Steve Samuelson (D)

District 136

Robert Freeman (D)

District 137

Joe Emrick (R)

District 138

Ann Flood (R)

District 139

Jeff Olsommer (R)

District 140

Jim Prokopiak (D)

District 141

Tina Davis (D)

District 142

Joseph Hogan (R)

District 143

Shelby Labs (R)

District 144

Brian Munroe (D)

District 145

Craig Staats (R)

District 146

Joseph Ciresi (D)

District 147

Donna Scheuren (R)

District 148

Mary Daley (D)

District 149

Tim Briggs (D)

District 150

Joseph Webster (D)

District 151

Melissa Cerrato (D)

District 152

Nancy Guenst (D)

District 153

Ben Sanchez (D)

District 154

Napoleon Nelson (D)

District 155

Danielle Friel Otten (D)

District 156

Christopher Pielli (D)

District 157

Melissa Shusterman (D)

District 158

Christina Sappey (D)

District 159

Carol Kazeem (D)

District 160

Craig Williams (R)

District 161

Leanne Krueger (D)

District 162

David Delloso (D)

District 163

Heather Boyd (D)

District 164

Gina Curry (D)

District 165

Jennifer O'Mara (D)

District 166

Gregory Vitali (D)

District 167

Kristine Howard (D)

District 168

Lisa Borowski (D)

District 169

Kate Klunk (R)

District 170

Martina White (R)

District 171

Kerry Benninghoff (R)

District 172

Sean Dougherty (D)

District 173

Patrick Gallagher (D)

District 174

Ed Neilson (D)

District 175

Mary Isaacson (D)

District 176

Jack Rader (R)

District 177

Joseph Hohenstein (D)

District 178

Kristin Marcell (R)

District 179

Jason Dawkins (D)

District 180

Jose Giral (D)

District 181

Malcolm Kenyatta (D)

District 182

Benjamin Waxman (D)

District 183

Zachary Mako (R)

District 184

Elizabeth Fiedler (D)

District 185

Regina Young (D)

District 186

Jordan Harris (D)

District 187

Gary Day (R)

District 188

Rick Krajewski (D)

District 189

Tarah Probst (D)

District 190

Roni Green (D)

District 191

Joanna McClinton (D)

District 192

Morgan Cephas (D)

District 193

Torren Ecker (R)

District 194

Tarik Khan (D)

District 195

Keith Harris (D)

District 196

Seth Grove (R)

District 197

Danilo Burgos (D)

District 198

Darisha Parker (D)

District 199

Barbara Gleim (R)

District 200

Christopher Rabb (D)

District 201

Andre Carroll (D)

District 202

Jared Solomon (D)

District 203

Anthony Bellmon (D)

Democratic Party (102)

Republican Party (101)