Ethan Baker

Ethan Baker earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Southern California, a master's degree in public affairs from the University of Michigan Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, a law degree from the Whittier College School of Law, and a certificate for senior executives in state and local government from the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. His career experience includes working as a special assistant to President Ronald Reagan (R), an attorney and owner of a law practice, and mayor of Troy. Baker has also served as chair and U.S. Commissioner for the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, vice chair of the Downtown Development Authority, chair of the Global Troy Advisory Committee, and advisory board member of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. He has also served with the Local Development Finance Authority.[1]

Ethan Baker has not yet completed [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

If you are Ethan Baker, click here to fill out [the profile publisher]'s 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out the candidate survey?

Any candidate running for elected office, at any level, can complete [the profile publisher]'s Candidate Survey. Completing the survey will update the candidate's [the profile publisher] profile, letting voters know who they are and what they stand for.  More than 32,000 candidates have taken [the profile publisher]'s candidate survey since we launched it in 2015. Learn more about the survey here.

Help improve [the profile publisher] - send us candidate contact info.

blockquote{border-left:none !important;padding-left:2em;position:relative;color:#444;font-family:"Libre Franklin",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;color:#202122;font-style:normal;}blockquote::before{content:open-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;left:-10px;top:40px;color:#ccc}blockquote::after{content:close-quote;font-size:3em;line-height:0.1em;position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;color:#ccc}

Campaign websiteBaker's campaign website stated the following:I’m running for Congress because, on a human level, it is not healthy for us to be this divided. We were not meant to live in constant fight mode or suspicion of one another. We can stand firmly for our principles, as we always have, while still making space to understand where someone else is coming from. In fact, that is where real strength is found.This moment calls for more.We’ve stopped talking. We’ve stopped listening.And when we stop listening, we stop understanding. And when we stop understanding, it becomes easier to assume the worst about each other. That’s when division stops being about ideas and starts affecting relationships—between friends, within families, and across communities.And it’s not only about being able to talk to each other again; it’s about electing representatives who will lead by example. Leaders who are willing to work through differences, solve the challenges we face, and bring that same tone of respect and dignity to Congress, and then back home to the district.I know you understand this because you’ve told me. You’ve shared your frustrations, your concerns about this division, and your hope that we can do better, not just in Congress, but right here in our own communities.In my work as Mayor of Troy, and working with mayors across our state and country, and leading international efforts to protect the economy and ecology of the Great Lakes—I’ve seen that same thing up close. I’ve brought people together around shared challenges, and I’ve learned to see different sides of people. I’ve seen that even when we disagree, most of us still want the same basic things: stability for our families, opportunity for our kids and grandkids, security and respect in our own individual lives, safe communities, and a future we can feel confident in.The moment is now. The issues we’re facing—cost of living, economic uncertainty, local jobs, infrastructure, our mental and physical health, and safety at home and abroad—need to be addressed now and are too important to be handled through division alone. They require people to sit down, work through differences, and stay focused on solutions that are grounded in respect.That’s how progress actually happens.And that’s the proven approach I have consistently taken—showing that it’s possible to be both principled and respectful in challenging times. It shapes the tone of our communities. It affects how people treat each other at home, at work, and in everyday life.We start to feel less divided—not because we all agree, but because we remember how to engage.That’s the kind of leadership I believe this moment calls for.Not louder. Not more combative. But more grounded. More focused on bringing people together and getting things done. Every day.When we choose representatives who listen, understand, and engage with an open mind, it has a ripple effect. It reaches from Washington into our communities. It shapes how we speak at our dinner tables, at holiday gatherings with extended family, how we treat our neighbors, and how we raise our children to see one another.I’d be honored if you’d join me in this. Let’s choose a different way of showing up—listening more, leading with respect, and bringing people back together. On a human level, this is how we start to move forward again. This is leadership that gets things done. That’s what I will bring to Congress. And this is what this moment is asking of us.— Ethan Baker's campaign website (July 28, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Baker's website highlighted the following campaign themes:[7]

Jobs & Business Growth

Excerpt: "The job market is improving in Michigan, but not fast enough! We need desirable, high paying jobs in our state—jobs that will not only provide for our immediate needs, but help us prepare for the future and plan for Michigan to not just “chase the pack”, but to set the pace."

Roads & Infrastructure

Excerpt: "We must change how our transportation dollars are collected and spent, so that we are not wasting funds, but are ensuring that we are getting the full benefit of our hard earned dollars. This has to be a priority."

Taxes

Excerpt: "Over the past few years, Michigan has made improvements in its tax code, but the work is not done. We need to aggressively reform how our taxes are collected, making them flatter and smaller."

Education

Excerpt: "We need to make smart choices to increase our education standards and to keep us competitive nationally, but not with top-down one-size-fits-all policies. If we want standards, they should be established locally, with local groups making the decisions."

Health Care

Excerpt: "While we continue to fight against the negative impact of Obamacare, there is nothing that prohibits the State of Michigan from improving our health care system for our citizens and becoming a model of reform for the nation."