Baxter's previous positions have been the chairman of the Jackson County Republican Party, the Business Development Director for his family's company Baxter Machine & Tool Co., Inc. in Jackson, Michigan, district director for Congressman Tim Walberg (R-MI) (2007),[1] Republican State Representative in the Michigan House of Representatives (2005–2006), County Commissioner for Jackson County, Michigan (2003–2004), and holding several positions, most recently as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), for Baxter Machine & Tool Co., Inc.

[2] Baxter is a member of a local Churches of Christ congregation where he has taught a Bible class and has served as their Treasurer since 2005.

He defeated the two-term incumbent Republican county commissioner in the primary and went on to win the seat, unopposed, in November.

During that time he was credited for fundamentally reorganizing the local party, rewriting their by-laws, consolidating their committees, and removed prominent inactive members with active new ones.

In 2008 he has started to organize the Party to work more closely with candidates, at all levels, to share costs, strategies, and resources.

Baxter's business career started after he graduated in 1997 from Lenawee Christian School in Adrian, Michigan.

In July 2014, he returned to his family's business, Baxter Machine, as its Chief Operating Officer (COO) after his brother, holding a similar position, left the company.