Charlie Baker facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charlie Baker
Official portrait, 2018
6th President of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
Incumbent
Assumed office March 1, 2023
Preceded by	Mark Emmert
72nd Governor of Massachusetts
In office January 8, 2015 – January 5, 2023
Lieutenant	Karyn Polito
Preceded by	Deval Patrick
Succeeded by	Maura Healey
Secretary of Administration and Finance of Massachusetts
In office November 1994 – September 1998
Governor	Bill Weld Paul Cellucci
Preceded by	Mark E. Robinson
Succeeded by	Frederick Laskey
Secretary of Health and Human Services of Massachusetts
In office October 1992 – November 1994
Governor	Bill Weld
Preceded by	David Forsberg
Succeeded by	Gerald Whitburn
Personal details
Born	Charles Duane Baker Jr. (1956-11-13) November 13, 1956 (age 68) Elmira, New York, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Spouse	Lauren Schadt ​ (m. 1987)​
Children	3
Relatives	Charles Baker (father)
Education	Harvard University (BA) Northwestern University (MBA)
Signature

Charles Duane Baker Jr. (born November 13, 1956), known as Charlie Baker, is an American leader who is the current president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Before this, he was a politician in the Republican Party. He served as the 72nd governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023.

Baker has a long history in both business and government. Before becoming governor, he was the head of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a major health insurance company. He also worked for two other Massachusetts governors, helping to manage the state's health care and finances.

As governor, Baker was known for being a moderate Republican in a mostly Democratic state. Polls often showed he was one of the most popular governors in the United States. In 2022, he decided not to run for a third term. He then accepted the job to lead the NCAA, which oversees sports programs for student-athletes at over 1,000 colleges and universities.

Early Life and Education

Charlie Baker was born on November 13, 1956, in Elmira, New York. His family has a long history in politics. His great-grandfather and grandfather were both involved in government. His father, Charles D. Baker, worked for the U.S. government under Presidents Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Baker grew up in Needham, Massachusetts. As a kid, he loved playing sports like football, hockey, and baseball. His family moved to Washington, D.C. for a few years when his father took a government job, but they returned to Needham in 1971. He graduated from Needham High School in 1975.

Baker's yearbook photo, around 1975

After high school, Baker went to Harvard College, where he earned a degree in English in 1979. He later went to Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management to get a Master of Business Administration (MBA), which is a degree focused on business skills.

Early Career in Government and Business

Working for Massachusetts

In the early 1990s, Baker began working in Massachusetts state government. Governor Bill Weld hired him to help run the state's health and human services department. In 1992, he was promoted to be the head of that department, called the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Later, he became the Secretary of Administration and Finance. This meant he was in charge of the state's budget and money. He was known as a key planner for the financing of the Big Dig, a massive highway project in Boston.

Career in the Health Industry

In 1998, Baker left government to work in the health care industry. He became the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, a large non-profit health insurance company. The company was losing a lot of money at the time. Baker made many changes to help turn the company around and make it successful. For five years in a row, it was named "America's Best Health Plan" by a national group.

Political Career

First Run for Governor

After his success in business, Baker decided to run for governor of Massachusetts in 2010. He ran as a Republican who was careful with money but had more liberal views on social issues. He wanted to focus on creating jobs and improving the economy.

He ran against the current governor, Deval Patrick, a Democrat. It was a tough election, and Baker lost, getting 42% of the vote compared to Patrick's 48%. After the election, Baker returned to the business world for a few years.

Winning the Governor's Office

Baker at a forum during his 2014 campaign for governor.

Baker decided to run for governor again in 2014. This time, Governor Patrick was not running for reelection. Baker's main opponent was the Democratic nominee, Martha Coakley. The election was very close, but Baker won with 48.4% of the vote. He became the 72nd governor of Massachusetts on January 8, 2015.

Governor of Massachusetts (2015–2023)

Baker's first official portrait as governor.

As governor, Charlie Baker was known for working with both Republicans and Democrats. He was often called a moderate, or "middle-of-the-road," Republican.

Reelection in 2018

Baker remained very popular throughout his first term. When he ran for reelection in 2018, he won by a large margin. He received 67% of the vote, defeating Democratic challenger Jay Gonzalez. It was the biggest victory for a governor in Massachusetts since 1994.

Economic Policy

Baker focused on making Massachusetts a good place for businesses. His administration offered money to help General Electric, a very large company, move its main office to Boston. He also supported programs to create jobs in technology, robotics, and life sciences (like medicine and biology). He started a program that gave money to towns and cities to help them improve their communities.

Transportation Policy

Baker's government worked on improving roads, bridges, and public transit. After a winter with record-breaking snow, he started a fund to fix potholes across the state. His administration also oversaw the switch to an all-electronic tolling system on the Massachusetts Turnpike. He signed a law that made it illegal to use a handheld cell phone while driving to improve safety.

Education Policy

Baker supported creating more charter schools, which are public schools that are run differently from traditional schools. He also worked to make college more affordable. One program he supported made tuition free for certain low-income students from Boston who attended local community colleges.

Energy and Environment

Baker (center) with General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt (left) and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh (right) in 2016.

Governor Baker took steps to address climate change. He signed laws to increase the state's use of clean energy, like wind power and hydropower. After the U.S. left the Paris Agreement on climate change, Baker joined with other governors to promise that their states would continue to work to reduce pollution. His administration also created a plan to help Massachusetts prepare for the effects of climate change, like rising sea levels.

Health Care Policy

With his background in health care, Baker focused on making sure people in Massachusetts had access to good health insurance. He worked with the federal government on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). When there were efforts to repeal the ACA, Baker spoke out against them, saying it would harm many people in his state.

He also took major steps to address the state's public health challenges. His administration launched programs to provide more treatment and support for people struggling with health issues.

President of the NCAA

On December 15, 2022, it was announced that Charlie Baker would become the new president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA is the main organization that governs college sports in the United States. He officially started the job on March 1, 2023.

As NCAA president, Baker has focused on new challenges facing college sports. One of the biggest issues is "Name, Image, and Likeness" (NIL), which allows student-athletes to earn money. Baker has asked the U.S. Congress to create a national law to make the rules for NIL deals fair and clear for everyone.

Personal Life

Baker married Lauren Schadt in 1987. They met while studying at Northwestern University. They live in Swampscott, Massachusetts, and have three children.

Baker is a fan of classic rock music and the original Star Wars movies.

Electoral History

See also

In Spanish: Charlie Baker para niños