Ernest James Bailes IV (born April 13, 1982), is an American politician and a former Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives for the 18th district.

[1] Bailes was defeated by Janis Holt by 53% to 39% on March 5, 2024, in the Republican primary for the Texas House of Representatives for the 18th District.

[2] Bailes, a rancher and agriculturist, grew up on his family's beef and dairy cattle operations in East Texas.

[3] Following graduation from A&M, Bailes founded his own company, Repro Select, an "advanced reproductive services provider for cattle and whitetail deer producers across the South-Central United States".

[8] Additionally, Bailes voted against the Schaefer Amendment of Senate Bill 8, which would have required women to carry fetuses with fatal fetal abnormalities to term.