Gia Baker is a Republican incumbent on the St. Tammany Parish School Board, one of Louisiana’s most closely watched suburban school systems. Since winning her seat in 2022, Baker has embraced the far-right playbook: attacking “critical race theory,” railing against diversity and inclusion, and campaigning on “taking schools back from the progressive agenda.”
In 2022, she won her seat by just 6.2% over Cris Fontenot (53.1%–46.9%). Several school-board contests that cycle were competitive, including at least one that went to a runoff, clear signs that voters are weary of culture-war politics in local schools. Baker’s narrow win wasn’t a show of strength. It was a warning sign. This district is competitive, and Baker is governing like it isn’t.
She may have squeaked by in 2022, but voters now know her record. The election is in 2026, but the race has already begun.
She’s exposed. She’s extreme. She’s beatable.
Anti-Inclusion & Book Ban Record
Voted in 2022 for a St. Tammany resolution to block “critical race theory” and “race-based curricula.”
Civil rights advocates warned it would chill teaching and open the door to book bans.
Campaign rhetoric promised to “take our schools back from the progressive agenda.”
Aligned with national anti-DEI attacks, framing inclusive education as “indoctrination.”
Support for such measures signaled backing for policies critics call book bans.
Teachers feel pressure to self-censor; marginalized students risk being erased.
Culture War Over Constituents
Promised to prioritize education, but instead focused on CRT and “progressive agenda” fights.
Linked to parish-wide library battles where activists tried (and failed) to ban 150+ books, mostly LGBTQ+ and by authors of color.
Record shows alignment with this rhetoric despite public backlash.
Has not delivered real school improvements (beyond limited traffic/facilities support).
Agenda centers on divisive social issues instead of student achievement.
Imported national grievance politics, distracting from everyday education needs.
Key Vulnerabilities
Won District 9 seat in 2022 by only 6.2%—a margin flippable with modest organizing.
Competitive parish races that year showed fatigue with culture-war politics.
Parents and educators already mobilized against censorship, forming a ready opposition coalition.
District demographics: fast-growing, suburban, with many young families seeking academic focus over politics.
Baker’s base is narrow, and community momentum favors change.
Gia Baker has spent her short time in office pushing divisive policies on her suburban Louisiana district. She voted to constrain inclusive curriculum, campaigned on fear of “progressive agendas,” and supported measures that critics call book bans in classrooms.
She has:
A documented anti-inclusion voting record
A narrow 2022 margin in a competitive district
A message out of step with families who want schools focused on students, not politics
No record of system-level improvements to teaching and learning
