Joe Baca

Joseph Natalio Baca Sr. is a former U.S. Representative who served in the House of Representatives for California's 43rd congressional district from 1999 until 2013. A member of the Democratic Party, Baca's political career spans several decades, including service in the California State Assembly and the California State Senate prior to his tenure in Congress. After leaving the House, he briefly switched party affiliations and returned to local politics, where he was elected to the Rialto City Council and later became the mayor of Rialto.

Early life and career

Joe Baca was born on January 23, 1947, in Belen, New Mexico, as the youngest of 15 children in a household that primarily spoke Spanish. His father worked as a railroad laborer, and the family later relocated to Barstow, California, during Baca's childhood. Growing up in a large family, Baca took on various jobs from a young age, including shining shoes at the age of ten and delivering newspapers. He also worked as a laborer for the Santa Fe Railroad until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1966, serving until 1968. Notably, Baca did not serve in Vietnam during his military tenure.

After completing his military service, Baca pursued higher education. He attended Barstow Community College before earning a bachelor's degree in sociology from California State University, Los Angeles. Following his academic achievements, he spent 15 years working in community relations for General Telephone and Electric. His political career began in 1979 when he became the first Latino elected to the board of trustees for the San Bernardino Valley College District. Subsequently, Baca was elected to the California State Assembly in 1992, where he served until 1998, when he was elected to the California State Senate.

House tenure

Baca's tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives began in 1999, following a special election to fill the vacancy left by the death of Congressman George Brown, Jr. In a competitive seven-way primary, Baca emerged as the leading candidate but did not secure a majority due to the presence of other Democratic candidates. He subsequently won the special general election against Republican candidate Elia Pirozzi with a narrow margin. In 2000, Baca secured a full term in Congress, receiving a significant majority of the vote.

Over the years, Baca was re-elected multiple times, benefiting from the reconfiguration of his district after the 2000 census, which transformed it into a majority-Hispanic district. His electoral success continued until 2012, when he faced a more challenging political landscape due to redistricting. The Citizens Redistricting Commission significantly altered California's congressional map, placing Baca's home in the newly designated 31st District while the majority of his previous territory became part of the 35th District. Baca chose to run in the 35th District, where he finished first in the all-party primary. However, he ultimately lost the general election to State Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod, who received substantial financial backing and ran a campaign that criticized Baca's record.

Following his defeat in 2012, Baca attempted to regain a congressional seat in 2014 by running in the 31st District but did not advance past the primary. He also ran for mayor of Fontana that same year but faced a significant loss, which led him to announce his retirement from politics. However, he returned to the political arena in 2022, successfully winning a seat on the Rialto City Council.

Legislative focus and committees

During his time in the House of Representatives, Baca was involved in various legislative activities and served on multiple committees. He was a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, where he participated in several subcommittees, including the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, and Credit, the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry, and the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Horticulture, where he served as the ranking member. Additionally, Baca was a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, contributing to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Baca was also active in several caucuses during his congressional career. He served as the former chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and chaired the Corporate America, Technology, Communications and the Arts Task Force, which aimed to enhance Hispanic representation in corporate sectors. His involvement extended to the Congressional Diabetes Caucus, the Military/Veterans Caucus, the Native American Caucus, and the U.S.-Mexico Caucus. He was known for co-sponsoring various pieces of legislation, including the Violence in Video Games Labeling Act, which sought to mandate warning labels on video game products.

Throughout his congressional career, Baca's legislative actions reflected a commitment to issues affecting his constituents, particularly in areas related to agriculture, financial services, and community representation. His voting record indicated a strong alignment with labor interests, which he reaffirmed during his later political transitions. After leaving Congress, Baca's political journey continued with his election to the Rialto City Council in 2022, and he subsequently became the mayor of Rialto in 2024, marking a return to local governance.