Jim Baird

Jim Baird
Born	James Edward Baird
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician
Title	U.S. Representative from Indiana's 4th congressional district
Known for	Serving as U.S. Representative for Indiana's 4th congressional district
Website	[https://baird.house.gov Official site]

James Edward "Jim" Baird is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 4th congressional district. A member of the Republican Party, Baird has represented the district, which encompasses a large swath of west-central and northwestern Indiana, since taking office. A Vietnam War veteran and former member of the Indiana General Assembly, Baird has focused his congressional career on issues related to agriculture, rural health care, energy policy, and election integrity. In January 2026, Baird and his wife were hospitalized following a serious car crash, an event that drew national attention including public remarks from President Donald Trump. Following his recovery, Baird returned to his legislative duties, continuing to champion the interests of Indiana's agricultural communities and rural populations.

Career

U.S. House of Representatives

Jim Baird represents Indiana's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. Throughout his tenure, Baird has been an active legislator with a particular focus on agricultural policy, rural health care, energy, and election integrity. He has aligned closely with Republican leadership and has been a consistent supporter of President Donald Trump's policy agenda.

Agriculture

Baird has been a prominent advocate for Indiana's farming community in Congress. In December 2025, he released a statement supporting the Trump administration's announcement of the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, which was designed to provide financial support to farmers.

In early 2026, Baird introduced the Hemp Planting Predictability Act, legislation intended to provide a two-year extension on the hemp provision in existing agricultural law. The bill was designed to support hemp farmers by providing greater regulatory certainty regarding planting schedules and compliance requirements. The legislation reflected Baird's broader efforts to advance the interests of Indiana's agricultural sector, which constitutes a significant portion of the economic activity in the 4th congressional district.

Rural Health Care

Baird has also focused on health care access in rural communities. In December 2025, he announced that the State of Indiana would receive nearly $207 million in funding for Fiscal Year 2026 through the Rural Health Transformation Program. The funding was intended to address health care disparities in rural areas of Indiana, where access to medical facilities and providers has been a persistent challenge. The announcement represented one of the largest single allocations of health care funding for the state in recent years.

Energy Policy

Baird has been a supporter of fossil fuel energy production, including coal. In February 2026, he joined President Trump at the White House for an event promoting what the administration termed "Beautiful, Clean Coal." The event was also attended by Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, among other officials. Baird's participation in the event underscored his support for energy policies that promote domestic fossil fuel production, a position consistent with the economic interests of his district and the broader Republican Party platform.

Election Integrity

In February 2026, Baird voted in favor of S. 1383, the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of citizenship for voter registration. In a statement following the vote, Baird framed the legislation as a measure to support election integrity. The SAVE America Act was part of a broader Republican legislative effort to tighten voting requirements at the federal level.

Assessment of Trump Administration

In an op-ed published by the Washington Reporter in February 2026, Baird wrote that "the state of our union is strong" one year into President Trump's second term. In the piece, Baird contrasted the Trump administration's record with that of the preceding Biden administration, arguing that the former had reversed what he characterized as the negative trajectory of the country under President Joe Biden. The op-ed reflected Baird's close alignment with the Trump administration's policy priorities and his role as a vocal supporter of the president within the Indiana congressional delegation.

Personal Life

On January 6, 2026, Congressman Jim Baird and his wife were involved in a serious car crash. The incident received national attention after President Donald Trump confirmed the hospitalization during televised remarks. Both Baird and his wife were hospitalized following the crash.

In the weeks following the accident, Baird's congressional office released a statement providing an update on his recovery. The statement indicated that Baird was making progress in his recuperation and was working to return to his duties in Congress. By February 2026, Baird had resumed his legislative activities, including attending White House events and casting votes on the House floor, suggesting a substantial recovery from the injuries sustained in the crash.