Theodore (Butch) Baker
Republican | Tennessee
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Theodore (Butch) Baker
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary and Judicial General
Race
State Senate, Dist., 17
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
University of Chattanooga, Chattanooga
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
WORK & MILITARY
Tennessee Military Institute: Attended and graduated from this military academy in Sweetwater, TN., Participated in the ROTC program while attending the University of Chattanooga.
University ROTC, Participated in the ROTC program while attending the University of Chattanooga.
Marine Corps OCS / PLC, Went through the Officer Candidates School / Platoon Leaders Class track at Quantico with the Marine Corps JAG Corps; however, he did not ultimately accept the commission to enter active service.
Sweetwater Hosiery Mill
Band Manager, During this time, he also worked as a commercial songwriter, writing for major entities including Lee Greenwood Music, Warner Brothers Music, and Encore Music.
A&R and Industry Consulting, Worked independently for several music publishing companies and handled Artists and Repertoire (A&R) operations for multiple record labels, scouting talent and managing creative assets.
Executive Leadership & Publishing Administration, Transitioned fully into corporate management, running the operations of Encore Publishing and later Horipro Publishing.
HoriGlobal Entertainment, Currently serves as the Owner and Senior Vice President of HoriGlobal Entertainment, where he leverages his private-sector business acumen and negotiation experience.
AFFILIATIONS
Methodist Church Leadership, Served as the Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) Chairman for both Grace Methodist Church and Gladeville Methodist Church.
Board Member, God’s Word For Warriors, Serves on the board of this veteran-focused organization based out of David Lipscomb University.
Leadership Music Nashville, Appointed to the prestigious 2007 class of this music industry executive organization.
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
none
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
none
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (4)
Chad Brock (Country Music Star)
Larry Gatlin (Country Music Star)
Lee Greenwood (Country Music Star)
Tim Coleman (Berry Hill Police Chief)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Only to prevent the death of the mother.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
Only to prevent the death of the mother. Tennessee Right to Life explicitly penalizes candidates who support rape or incest exceptions. Butch firmly stands behind the state's existing statutory protections for the unborn.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
The market, not government, should determine wages. Artificial hikes force small businesses to raise prices, cut hours, and reduce entry-level jobs. Tennessee should protect a pro-growth economy without costly bureaucratic overreach.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Regulatory Audit: Enact strict sunset reviews to slash bureaucratic red tape that slows down small businesses. DOGE-Style Efficiency: Eliminate wasteful administrative spending and redundant positions across state agencies. Contractor Accountability: Enforce rigorous performance benchmarks on infrastructure projects to end costly taxpayer-funded delays.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
The Constitution protects the church from government intrusion, not the other way around. Our nation was founded on Christian values, and our liberties come from God, not bureaucrats. It means the state cannot establish a national religion or interfere with our right to worship freely, but it should never be used as a weapon to completely strip faith and common-sense moral principles from the public square.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Freedom of conscience and individual liberty are non-negotiable American rights. No private citizen or small business owner should ever be forced by the government to violate their deeply held moral or religious convictions under threat of legal or financial penalty.
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
A government database tracking citizens' personal medical conditions is a massive violation of privacy that directly contradicts Butch’s anti-overreach, constitutional conservative platform.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes. Israel is America's strongest and most vital ally in the Middle East. Our nations share a foundational bond rooted in democratic values, mutual security interests, and shared intelligence capabilities. We must stand unshakeably with Israel to maintain regional stability, counter global terrorism, and defend our economic and security interests abroad. Protecting this relationship is essential to keeping America safe and honoring our commitments to our allies.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian, a Methodist, and my greatest title will always be a child of God. My worldview is rooted in Christian conservative values and a heavy dose of common sense. Faith guides my commitment to integrity, family, and serving others. I believe our liberties come from God, not bureaucrats, and I am dedicated to protecting those foundational values and standing up for what is right in the public square.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
We need a common-sense, all-of-the-above energy policy. Traditional fossil fuels and nuclear power are the most reliable, affordable baseload sources capable of meeting our rapidly growing electricity demands safely
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The primary goal of the criminal justice system must be to protect public safety, enforce the law, and deter crime by ensuring swift and certain punishment for lawbreakers. While rehabilitation programs can have a place for non-violent offenders, the system must always prioritize the rights of victims and the safety of our communities over the comfort of criminals. Law and order are foundational to a thriving society.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The government should focus on enforcing existing laws and addressing mental health issues rather than restricting the rights of law-abiding gun owners. The Second Amendment is clear and non-negotiable. Criminals do not follow gun restrictions; new regulations only disarm good citizens and leave families defenseless. Protecting public safety means supporting law enforcement and defending our constitutional right to self-defense.
