Brian Baird
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| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 3rd district | |
| In office January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Linda Smith |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Herrera Beutler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Brian Norton Baird (1956-03-07) March 7, 1956 (age 68) Chama, New Mexico, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Rachel Nugent |
| Children | 2 |
| Relatives | Maggie Baird (sister) Finneas O'Connell (nephew) Billie Eilish (niece) |
| Residence(s) | Edmonds, Washington, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Utah (BS) University of Wyoming (MS, PhD) |
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Brian Norton Baird (born March 7, 1956) is an American psychologist and politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as a U.S. representative for Washington's 3rd congressional district from 1999 to 2011.
After leaving the U.S. House of Representatives, he served as the president of Antioch University Seattle from 2011 to 2015.
Baird was born in Chama, New Mexico, to Edith Shaw and William Norton "Bill" Baird, a town councilman and mayor.[1][2] His younger sister is actress Maggie Baird. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Utah, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1977, and his Master of Science degree and PhDinclinical psychology from the University of Wyoming.[3]
He is the former chairman of the Department of Psychology at Pacific Lutheran UniversityinTacoma, Washington, and a licensed clinical psychologist. He has published several journal articles and three books. He regularly teaches professional development courses to attorneys and judges on communications, ethics and the psychology of persuasion.[4] Baird is a member of the ReFormers Caucus of Issue One.[5]
Baird was also a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the House Science Committee, the House Budget Committee, and the House Select Committee on Continuity in Government. He served as a senior regional whip and on the Democratic Steering Committee, was elected president of the 1998 Democratic Freshman Class, and was a member of the New Democrat Coalition.
On his House of Representatives website, Baird wrote that during his time in Congress, he had flown home nearly every weekend and hosted more than 280 town hall meetings, and that he had visited every high school, port, hospital and countless businesses and organizations in Southwest Washington.[3]
Baird held over 300 town halls, or one for approximately every week and a half he was in office. Although they usually had around 50 participants, when held during passionate debates, they had up to 3000.[citation needed]
On February 19, 2009, Baird, together with fellow congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), visited Gaza to view firsthand the destruction from the Gaza War and meet with international and local relief agencies. Others in the visit included Senator John Kerry (D-MA). The visit, which was not sanctioned by the Obama Administration, was the first time anyone from the U.S. government had entered Gaza in more than three years.[6] Baird said:
"The amount of physical destruction and the depth of human suffering here [in Gaza] is staggering. Entire neighborhoods have been destroyed, schools completely leveled, fundamental water, sewer, and electricity facilities hit and relief agencies heavily damaged. The personal stories of children being killed in their homes or schools, entire families wiped out, and relief workers prevented from evacuating the wounded are heart-wrenching—what went on here, and what is continuing to go on, is shocking and troubling beyond words."
After Baird's third visit to Gaza in February 2010, he called on the U.S. to end the blockade and to deliver humanitarian supplies, which could include withholding military aid from Israel, saying the U.S. needed to be more serious about getting Israel to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.[7][8]
Baird challenged Republican incumbent Linda Smithin1996 and lost by only 887 votes. Smith gave up the seat to make an unsuccessful bid for the United States Senatein1998. Baird ran again and defeated State Senator Don Benton with 54.7% of the vote. He never faced another race that close, and was reelected five times.
On December 9, 2009, Baird announced he would not run for reelection in 2010.[9] After his retirement, Baird and his family moved to Edmonds, Washington, and he wrote books on American politics.[10]
| Year | Democrat | Votes | Pct | Republican | Votes | Pct | 3rd Party | Party | Votes | Pct | ||||
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| 1996 | Brian Baird | 122,230 | 50% | Linda Smith | 123,117 | 50% | ||||||||
| 1998 | Brian Baird | 120,364 | 55% | Don Benton | 99,855 | 45% | ||||||||
| 2000 | Brian Baird | 159,428 | 56% | Trent R. Matson | 114,861 | 41% | Erne Lewis | Libertarian | 8,375 | 3% | ||||
| 2002 | Brian Baird | 119,264 | 62% | Joseph Zarelli | 74,065 | 38% | ||||||||
| 2004 | Brian Baird | 193,626 | 62% | Thomas A. Crowson | 119,027 | 38% | ||||||||
| 2006 | Brian Baird | 147,065 | 63% | Michael Messmore | 85,915 | 37% | ||||||||
| 2008 | Brian Baird | 216,701 | 64% | Michael Delavar | 121,828 | 36% |
Baird is married to Rachel Nugent and they have two children together. He is the maternal uncle of singer-songwriters Billie Eilish and Finneas O'Connell.[12]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington's 3rd congressional district 1999–2011 |
Succeeded by |
| U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial) | ||
| Preceded by as Former US Representative | Order of precedence of the United States as Former US Representative |
Succeeded by as Former US Representative |
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