Baker is currently political director and will succeed Rob Collins in the executive director post.

Kevin McLaughlin, a senior adviser at the NRSC who oversaw the successful 2014 candidate-training program, will also stay on, likely as deputy executive director.

The deal has not been formalized yet, and Baker is working out the final terms of his contract. An announcement could come as soon as next week.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell played a key role in Baker's selection, and Senate leaders are pleased to have some continuity. The NRSC team just won the majority and will be defending seven seats in 2016 that Barack Obama carried twice.

Baker served in the Marines before getting into politics. The Tennessee native got his start on Rep. Marsha Blackburn's 2002 campaign, worked for Haley Barbour's 2003 election as Mississippi governor and George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign.

Baker spent Bush's second term focused on down-ballot races at the Republican State Leadership Committee. In 2010, he helped now-Rep. Diane Black win a primary in his home state and then was a senior adviser on Florida Gov. Rick Scott's campaign. He spent 2012 as an adviser on Mitt Romney's campaign, a liaison between the Republican National Committee's victory program in 11 states and Romney's Boston headquarters.