Personal Background

Jackie was born, raised, & educated right here in Northeast PA.

She currently lives in Susquehanna County with her family.

Jackie Baker for PA

She is an Elk Lake graduate.

She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from Mansfield University and a Master’s Degree in Education from Wilkes University.

As a public school teacher and mother, Jackie has always advocated for children and families and has stood by the principle that all people deserve to be treated with fairness and dignity.

Jackie Baker was born and raised in Northeast Pennsylvania. She earned a bachelor's degree in education from Mansfield University and a master's degree in education from Wilkes University. She lives with her family.

Jackie Baker is a public school teacher, a proud mother of three, and a lifelong Pennsylvanian. For over 15 years in the classroom, Jackie has spent her career helping our kids succeed, listening to parents, and stretching tight school budgets to get results.

Biographical Information
COUNTY
Susquehanna
OCCUPATION
Teacher, Stay-at-home- mom
EDUCATION
High School diploma, Bachelor's of Science in Education, Master's Degree in Education
QUALIFICATIONS
PA State Senate Candidate in 2020 and in 2022
CAMPAIGN WEBSITE
http://jackiebakerforpa.org

Pennsylvania State Senator District 20 — VOTE411 Voter Guide

Jackie was a candidate for the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2020 and 2022.

Pennsylvania State Senator District 20 - Voter Guide - VOTE411.org

Jackie lost races for the Pennsylvania State Senate in 2020 and 2022.

2026 Pennsylvania General Election 

I support expanding inclusionary zoning policies that require or encourage developers to set aside a share of new units as affordable for lower-income households.

This upside down tax system taxes low- & middle-income people and small businesses too much while allowing the richest people and largest corporations to get away without paying their fair share. This has led to less and less revenue for the state to use for important things like education, infrastructure, and other services that people and local communities need.

We must shift Pennsylvania away from one of the most regressive tax systems in the nation, lower the tax burden on low- and middle-income households,

and ensure the wealthiest Pennsylvanians and corporations finally pay their fair share.

Research has found that for every 10% increase in the minimum wage, the poverty rate decreases by about 5% in the long run; a full 38% of workers who would benefit in PA have a family income below 200% of the poverty level.  
Raising the minimum wage would have concrete impacts on nearly one in four people who would see an increase in their wage.

TIME TO RAISE THE WAGE!

PUBLIC TRANSIT

We need to expand Pennsylvania’s public transit systems to grow our economy and connect more Pennsylvanians to jobs, healthcare, and essential needs.

 We must create policies to improve transit access, transit jobs, and transit funding. Funding transit benefits all Pennsylvanians. Every county has public transit whether it’s buses, senior services, or transportation services for people with disabilities. This is about all of us.

We must address the housing shortage by increasing supply and creating more affordable housing options.

I propose allowing more housing of all types, including duplexes, townhomes, and smaller starter homes on small lots,  in more parts of the state.

Since these homes are smaller, they require less land and materials, which make them cheaper than larger homes on larger lots.

Agriculture and Farming

Agriculture isn't just about yields and bottom lines - it's about HERITAGE. Many farmers are working the same land that has been in their family for generations. They aren't just producing food, they are stewards of our landscape and the economic engine of our rural communities.  

We must protect our right to farm, invest in rural broadband, and support processing infrastructure that keeps products local.

Supports expanding inclusionary zoning policies for affordable housing units.

Advocates for lowering taxes on low- and middle-income households while requiring wealthier residents and corporations to pay more.

Calls for expanding public transit access, jobs, and funding.

Proposes allowing more housing types, including duplexes, townhomes, and smaller homes, in more areas to increase affordable housing supply.

Calls for protecting the right to farm and investing in rural broadband and local processing infrastructure.

- Supports expanding inclusionary zoning policies for affordable housing units.
- Advocates for lowering taxes on low- and middle-income households while requiring wealthier residents and corporations to pay more.
- Supports raising the minimum wage.
- Calls for expanding public transit access, jobs, and funding.
- Proposes allowing more housing types, including duplexes, townhomes, and smaller homes, in more areas to increase affordable housing supply.
- Calls for protecting the right to farm and investing in rural broadband and local processing infrastructure.

Economy

Decades of underfunding by the Pennsylvania Legislature has left public schools districts, many of them rural, severely underfunded with limited means to raise local revenues to maintain programs and services. Our continued reliance on property tax revenue to fund public education has created a system where children from wealthier families and higher income communities have more resources and opportunities than students from less privileged backgrounds. This is an unsustainable system for students, school districts, and taxpayers. We must fully fund public education and identify new revenue sources to meet the constitutional requirement to fully fund public schools.

Calls for fully funding public schools and identifying new revenue sources to meet Pennsylvania's constitutional funding requirement.

- Calls for fully funding public schools and identifying new revenue sources to meet Pennsylvania's constitutional funding requirement.

Education

Pennsylvania has seen a series of hospital and maternity-unit closures, especially in rural areas across PA. Public health infrastructure is split between a relatively lean state Department of Health and 60-plus local health departments and state-served counties. We need a comprehensive state plan or major investment to rebuild the public health workforce & modernize the data systems.

Every Pennsylvanian deserves to get the care they need when they need it.

Every Pennsylvanian deserves to get the care they need when they need it.

Every Pennsylvanian deserves reliable healthcare they can afford, no matter their job, income, or background. Programs like Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, SNAP, and the Affordable Care Act help millions of families stay healthy, feed their children, and retire with dignity. These programs should be supported and funded, not cut for tax breaks for the ultra rich.

Women need access to maternal care, pre- and post-natal care, preventative health and cancer screenings, family planning, contraception, and health education. We must fund women, children’s and infants healthcare.

In Pennsylvania, the Human Relations Act does not extend protections for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians in Housing, Employment, and Public Accommodations. I support The Fairness Act that would extend protections to the LGBTQ+ community with the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity.

I will work to make sure that local, safe, & equitable healthcare is accessible for LGBTQ+ Pennsylvanians. I support fair & equal rights for all and when elected, I will take bold action to end discrimination and inequality.

Calls for a comprehensive state plan or major investment to rebuild the public-health workforce and modernize data systems.

Supports funding Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Affordable Care Act programs rather than cutting them for tax breaks.

Calls for funding maternal, prenatal and postnatal care, cancer screenings, family planning, contraception, and health education.

Plans to work for accessible, safe, and equitable health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Pennsylvanians.

- Calls for a comprehensive state plan or major investment to rebuild the public-health workforce and modernize data systems.
- Supports funding Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Affordable Care Act programs rather than cutting them for tax breaks.
- Calls for funding maternal, prenatal and postnatal care, cancer screenings, family planning, contraception, and health education.
- Plans to work for accessible, safe, and equitable health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Pennsylvanians.

Healthcare

What changes, if any, would you support to enable better access, ensure security, and support the processes of our elections?
Our right to vote must be protected at all costs for it is the foundation of democracy. I support protecting and expanding access to voting, including protecting the right to vote by mail-in ballots and expanding the time a citizen has to register to vote. To make it easier for everyday citizens to vote, I support offering voter registration through more state and local agencies. Easy access to voting and increased voter turnout is crucial to true representation in our democracy. I oppose any measure that tries to restrict voting or registering to vote, as is the right of every U.S. citizen, no matter where we live, what we look like, or how much money we make.

I support protecting voters, including securing voting rights for all citizens.
I believe we cannot allow voter intimidation laws and burdensome Voter I.D. laws to pass, for they would disenfranchise millions of voters who have the right to vote.

4. Voters need accurate information about voting rules and laws.
I support expanding voter education - making it easier for people to register to vote, check their registration, find their polling place, find answers to their questions and identify potential barriers to voting that can be corrected before election day.

Fair Representation in the redistricting process by ending gerrymandering

I support a constitutional amendment to create an impartial, independent citizens' commission to redraw district lines, removing politicians from the process to ensure fairness.

U. S. Term Limits Pledge

I pledge that as a member of the state legislature, I will co-sponsor, vote for, and defend the resolution applying for an Article V convention for the sole purpose of enacting term limits on Congress. Jackie Baker

Supports expanding voting access through mail-in ballots, a longer voter-registration period, and registration services at more state and local agencies.

Opposes measures that restrict voting or voter registration, including voter-intimidation laws and burdensome voter identification requirements.

Supports a constitutional amendment creating an independent citizens' commission to redraw legislative district lines.

Pledges to co-sponsor, vote for, and defend a resolution seeking a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to enact congressional term limits.

- Supports expanding voting access through mail-in ballots, a longer voter-registration period, and registration services at more state and local agencies.
- Opposes measures that restrict voting or voter registration, including voter-intimidation laws and burdensome voter identification requirements.
- Supports a constitutional amendment creating an independent citizens' commission to redraw legislative district lines.
- Pledges to co-sponsor, vote for, and defend a resolution seeking a convention under Article V of the U.S. Constitution to enact congressional term limits.

Voting & Elections

As of October 16, 2026, Jackie Baker’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Public Safety

I support the green amendment to the PA Constitution that enforces Pennsylvanians’ right to clean air, pure water, and preservation of the natural, scenic, historic, and esthetic values of our environment. I support investing state funds into cleaning up contaminated and dangerous areas across our commonwealth. I support bringing funds to local communities and municipalities to help clean and restore polluted areas and to reduce the local sources of air and water pollution.

Pennsylvania has an energy crisis — and Pennsylvania residents are paying the price. Electricity bills are going up largely because we are relying too much on a single energy. Expanded renewable energy is a solution to the energy imbalance that is causing rising prices. Increasing clean energy in PA will mean cleaner air and fewer asthma attacks, more stable energy bills over time, good-paying jobs that keep young people in Pennsylvania, & stronger rural economies. We’re in this crisis because Pennsylvania has clung to coal, oil, and gas – outdated, fossil fuels that are getting more expensive and less reliable by the day. Clean energy is the path to affordability. We must act now to lower costs and protect households.

Climate Change

Temperatures are rising, droughts, heat waves, flooding, soil erosion, and runoff are threatening the quality of life for people living in PA, and it’s only going to get worse. We must invest in our local communities to improve the living conditions of those who are being adversely impacted by the effects of climate change, especially those who live in the poorest of communities, resulting in poor health conditions and less desirable living environments.

We must make a swift transition to clean affordable energy to reduce pollution in our communities.

They take our land, our water, and our power and they leave us with empty promises.

I am calling for a moratorium on new data center development.

I am calling for a responsible pause, a moratorium. I am not anti-technology nor anti-progress, but progress shouldn’t mean stream-rolling the people of PA.

What do you see as the most pressing issues facing residents of your district, and how would you address them?
Data centers are one of the biggest issues in my district. How data centers are operating in PA must have strict oversight by our elected officials, state and local. Data centers must NOT harm our communities by consuming copious amounts of water and electricity, contaminating our natural environment and resources, or by destroying lands across the commonwealth. We must set laws that keep data centers from being built in places that harm our air, water, or ecosystems. We must set laws that ensure data centers don’t lead to an increase in energy costs for Pennsylvanians. As data centers use huge amounts of electricity, they should be required to generate their own renewable energy so that costs are not placed on local communities.

Supports a Pennsylvania constitutional green amendment establishing rights to clean air, pure water, and environmental preservation.

Advocates for expanding renewable energy and making a swift transition to affordable clean energy.

Calls for a moratorium on new data center development.

Proposes requiring data centers to generate renewable energy so local communities do not bear their electricity costs.

- Supports a Pennsylvania constitutional green amendment establishing rights to clean air, pure water, and environmental preservation.
- Advocates for expanding renewable energy and making a swift transition to affordable clean energy.
- Calls for a moratorium on new data center development.
- Proposes requiring data centers to generate renewable energy so local communities do not bear their electricity costs.

Energy & the Environment

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Jackie Baker

- Advocates for lowering taxes on low- and middle-income households while requiring wealthier residents and corporations to pay more.
- Supports raising the minimum wage.
- Calls for expanding public transit access, jobs, and funding.
- Proposes allowing more housing types, including duplexes, townhomes, and smaller homes, in more areas to increase affordable housing supply.
- Calls for protecting the right to farm and investing in rural broadband and local processing infrastructure.

- Advocates for expanding renewable energy and making a swift transition to affordable clean energy.
- Calls for a moratorium on new data center development.
- Proposes requiring data centers to generate renewable energy so local communities do not bear their electricity costs.

Instagram

Isaac Brickman

Buket Urgen

Lisa Baker

- Your state senator represents the interests of your district in the Pennsylvania State Senate. The State Senate, along with the State House of Representatives, makes up your state lawmaking body: the Pennsylvania General Assembly. 
- Your state senator can author, sponsor, and vote on bills that may become state laws after going through the legislative process.
- The State Senator and their staff members respond to constituent concerns and questions through emails, phone calls, and website announcements. 
- The State Senator oversees the executive branch and can vote to overrule a veto by the Governor.   
- There are 50 Pennsylvania state senators, each representing a single district.
- Senators must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens, and residents of Pennsylvania for four years. They must also have lived in their district for one year before the election and must remain there throughout their term.
- State senators are elected to four-year terms and have a salary of $106,000, with a 1-3% annual increase.  

Your representative and state lawmaker in the Pennsylvania Senate.