The same year, he was elected chair of the Umeå Union of Students and also became a member of the municipal school board.

From 2000 Baylan worked as an ombudsman for the Swedish Union of Commercial Salaried Employees.

He ran unsuccessfully on the Social Democratic ballot for the 2004 European Parliament election.

2007 he was elected chairman of the Swedish parliamentary committee of transportation and communication.

Baylan was appointed energy minister with placement in the Ministry of the Environment at the change of government after the parliamentary elections 2014.