[1] Bauer was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1971 to the 49th district, and served until 1980, when he ran for the state senate.

In the latter three years, he served as the House Democratic Caucus Chairman.

He served in the Washington State Senate from 1981 to 2001 as a Democrat representing the 48th district.

[1] Bauer Hall at Clark College is named in his honour.

He died of a stroke on April 21, 2021, in Vancouver, Washington, at age 92.