RepublicanIn office since Nov 2020

R. Shane Baker

Kentucky State Representative, District 85 since 2020. Ran in 3 elections between 2020 and 2024, winning 3. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.

Kentucky State Representative, District 85

Official website Wikipedia

In office: 6 yrs; Since 2020
Bills became law: 7; 37 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
Votes missed: 11.6%; Chamber median 7.5%
With party: 96%; On votes splitting the parties
Last margin: +97.9; Won 2026
Next election: 2028; Nov 7, 2028

Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET

Committees

As of 2026-10.

Postsecondary Education · vice chair
Education
Elections, Constitutional Amendments and Intergovernmental Affairs
Natural Resources and Energy
Natural Resources and Energy
State Government
Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
Tourism, Small Business and Information Technology

Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET

Legislation

2025–2026 session · 37 sponsored · 7 became law

BillIntroCmteHouseSenateLaw

HB 311 AN ACT relating to railroad crossings.
Local Mandate · Became law Apr 2026

HB 379 AN ACT relating to postsecondary education.
Education, Elementary And Secondary · Became law Apr 2026

HB 58 AN ACT relating to privacy protection.
Administrative Regulations And Proceedings · Became law Apr 2026

HB 4 AN ACT relating to grooming a minor.
Children And Minors · Became law Apr 2026

HB 5 AN ACT relating to prison educational programs.
Administrative Regulations And Proceedings · Became law Apr 2026

Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET

Voting record

2025–2026 session · placement by roll-call votes

Where Baker sits in the Kentucky House of Representatives

Baker is closer to the center than 11% of the chamber's Republicans.

Closest: Kim Holloway, Matt Lockett, Emily Callaway

Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:50 PM ET

With Baker’s party

Votes with the chamber's Republicans96%

Black tick: the average of Republicans in the Kentucky House of Representatives.

Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships

Key votes

Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Baker’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Republicans.

Date	Bill	Baker	Rep. majority	Dem. majority	Result
Apr 15, 2026	HB 869: AN ACT relating to fiscal matters and declaring an emergency.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Passed 70–22
Apr 14, 2026	HB 379: AN ACT relating to postsecondary education.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 80–17
Apr 14, 2026	HB 142: AN ACT relating to depredating wildlife and declaring an emergency.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 86–11
Apr 14, 2026	HB 904: AN ACT relating to gaming.	Not voting	Yes	No	Passed 67–7
Apr 14, 2026	HB 652: AN ACT relating to critical facility mapping and declaring an emergency.	Yes	Yes	No	Passed 81–17

Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls

Career

Offices held, and every time Baker was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.

202020212022202320242025202620272028Kentucky House of Representatives, District 85

Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)

Elections

Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.

Year	Race	Result	Margin	Seat	+/−
2026	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 85	Won	R+97.9	R+63.8	+34.1
2024	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 85	Won	—	R+63.8	—
2022	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 85	Won	R+63.7	R+64.9	−1.2
2020	Kentucky House of Representatives, District 85	Won	—	—	—