Baker says the 16th is a special district without a lot of extreme, partisan views.
"Voters have given us feedback that they really want to make sure this community has a voice in Sacramento that is independent from major interests, above party and above all other loyalties," Baker said. "I am greatly honored to have this opportunity now to be that voice in Sacramento."
Statewide, Republicans gained several seats in the Assembly and successfully blocked Democrats from regaining a two-thirds majority in the Senate.
"What it shows it that one-party rule is not the panacea," said Senate Republican spokesman Peter DeMarco. "After a year of scandals and embarrassing headlines, voters in the Central Valley and in Orange County realize how grave the threat was to their way of life."
Orange County Supervisor Janet Nguyen, a Republican, won 60 percent support in the 34th Senate District over former Assemblyman Jose Solorio. The GOP's Young Kim took the 65th Assembly District seat in Orange County from Democratic incumbent Sharon Quirk-Silva with 56 percent of votes.
Palmdale Democratic freshman Steve Fox lost his 36th Assembly District seat to GOP opponent Tom Lackey, who led with 61 percent of the vote.
Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Democrats, said the caucus was expecting to hold on to 52 seats, the same number it had in 2010. He downplayed the significance of having a supermajority.
"In reality, it just makes a lot of procedural issues easier," Maviglio said.
This post contains reporting from the Associated Press.