SCHENECTADY, NY - Andrew Baker is a junior wide receiver on the Union College football team. On Wednesday morning during Election Week he officially became the son of a United States Governor-Elect as his father, Charlie, won the governor's race in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Baker shared his thoughts and emotions from that night as his father was elected by a 1% decision, the closest in recent memory in Massachusetts, and how being a student-athlete and the son of a gubernatorial candidate has had a positive impact on his life.
Baker described election night as a roller coaster of emotions. His father began with a big lead but as the night went on, his opponent, Martha Coakley, inched closer. She would take a 2% lead around 10:00 p.m. with 70-percent of the votes counted and the Baker family got nervous. But a little later when 85% of the vote was tallied, Charlie Baker had grown a sizeable lead and the victory looked all but certain.
"It was a huge sigh of relief," the younger Baker, who also goes by A.J., said, "we were all able to relax a lot more at that point."
The final decision would come around 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning and up until then Andrew described the atmosphere as very intense but was quite pleased that his father came out the winner. Charlie Baker also ran in 2010 but lost out to Deval Patrick.
"The whole night (in 2014) had a different feeling than in 2010. It was a such great feeling once it was over and everything was decided," said A.J.
When asked about his contribution to the campaign, Baker said he was not able to help out as much as he would have liked because of his academics as well as his responsibilities with the football program. However, he said he was much more personally involved this time around than he was in 2010, as he was about to enter his junior year of high school. Baker said he was more educated on the matter and understood the situation more than he did four years ago and thus, was able to follow it more closely while he was away.
Baker mentioned that being a student-athlete and the son of a gubernatorial candidate has taken a lot of work but it has definitely taught him a few things. He is now more capable of managing his time efficiently and says the whole experience has taught him how to act more professionally.
"Not many people can say they've gone through this type of experience," Baker added. "But this has been a good thing for myself to learn from."
Andrew, a political science major, said he was unsure what he wanted to do after high school but chose political science as a major because he knew his dad was going to be involved and that the subject interests him from a historical point of view. Baker touched on the broad scope of the degree and says he can pursue a variety of avenues. He is also attempting to minor in sociology to help him out for life after Union.
As for following in his dad's footsteps into politics, A.J. said with a smile, "I dont think I can get into politics. It's too high stressed for me."
Baker has caught 28 passes for 412 yards with four touchdowns in eight games this season. He was named to the Liberty League Honor Roll after hauling in career bests in receptions (8) and receiving yards (135) and scoring twice in the Dutchmen's 42-35 loss to Springfield on October 4. Baker missed the game against the Merchant Marine Academy due to an injury.
