Amber M Baker

Dr. Amber M. Baker is the incumbent Democratic member of the North Carolina House of Representatives for District 72 and is seeking re‑election in the November 3, 2026 general election ¹⁷. The North Carolina House seat carries a two‑year term, with members serving on a range of standing committees and participating in the state’s law‑making process; Baker’s current term runs until January 1, 2027 ¹.

Baker was born in Louisville, Kentucky, and earned a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from Winston‑Salem State University before completing a Master of Arts and a Ph.D. in educational leadership and administration at Ohio State University ¹⁷¹⁰.

Before entering politics, she spent more than a decade as the principal of Kimberley Park Elementary School in Winston‑Salem, where she oversaw school operations and community outreach. She also worked as a principal consultant with Beyond Expectations Consultants, leveraging her expertise in school leadership and educational policy ¹⁷.

Since taking office on January 1, 2021, Baker has served on several key committees. In the 2023‑2024 session she was Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee and a member of the Appropriations on Transportation, Commerce, Election Law and Campaign Finance Reform, Regulatory Reform, State Personnel, and UNC Board of Governors Nominations committees ¹. Earlier, she served on the Families, Children, and Aging Policy; Regulatory Reform; State Government; Appropriations; and Appropriations on Capital committees during the 2021‑2022 session. She has sponsored legislation on education, budgeting, and regulatory issues, though a complete list is maintained on BillTrack50 ¹¹⁸.

Baker won her first election in 2020 with 58.6% of the vote and was re‑elected in 2022 and 2024, the latter with 100% of the vote after running unopposed ¹⁷. The 2026 Democratic primary was canceled, moving her directly to the November ballot as the party’s nominee ¹. Her campaign emphasizes continued investment in education, community development, and responsive representation for the diverse constituents of Winston‑Salem and surrounding areas ⁸¹⁰.

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