Jennifer Baker

Jennifer Baker, MPA is a seasoned legislative advocate with more than two decades of experience shaping education, fiscal, pension, and tax policy in California state and local government. She has worked extensively across California’s political and educational landscapes, providing strategic guidance on high-profile policy and budget issues and navigating complex legislative environments with a pragmatic, solutions-oriented approach.

Jennifer serves as a Legislative Advocate with Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes, where she advises organizations on political strategy, pensions, education policy, budgeting, and tax issues. She represents clients before the California Legislature, state agencies, federal partners, and key stakeholder organizations to advance organizational priorities and long-term policy goals.

Previously, Jennifer spent ten years as a Legislative Advocate for the California Teachers Association, where she provided advocacy and professional consultation on public K–12 education policy and fiscal strategies. Her portfolio included state budgets, pensions, taxation, early childhood education, English language acquisition, civil rights, and community college fiscal and policy issues. Earlier in her career, she served as Director of Governmental Affairs and Program Analysis at the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, overseeing legislative affairs and research divisions and advising on pension plan policy, funding, investments, and related legislation.
Jennifer has also held leadership roles with the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges during periods of significant fiscal instability and began her legislative career as a Legislative Assistant to Assembly Member Jenny Oropeza, supporting legislation on international trade, domestic violence, and firearms policy.

In addition to her professional work, Jennifer has a strong record of civic leadership. She currently serves on the board of 916INK and previously served as a Natomas Unified School District Trustee and as President of the California Latino School Boards Association.
Jennifer holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Southern California and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of the Pacific.