H. C. Baldridge attended Illinois Wesleyan University and later relocated to Southwestern Idaho, where he worked in the mercantile trade. He entered the Idaho Legislature in 1911 and served a single term in the Idaho Senate in 1913. Baldridge was elected lieutenant governor in 1922 and re-elected in 1924, subsequently being elected governor in 1926 and re-elected in 1928. He left office in 1931 and later served as Commissioner of Charitable Returns from 1943 to 1945.

H. C. Baldridge's political identity is marked by a tension between his warnings against expansive public building programs and his support for state-funded infrastructure projects like highways and university expansions. This juxtaposition suggests a nuanced approach to state investment, balancing fiscal conservatism with strategic regional development. His rhetorical style likely emphasizes localized benefits and long-term economic stability, though the full reasoning behind these choices remains to be explored.