He was born in Øymark.
He was elected to the Norwegian Parliament from Østfold in 1958, was re-elected six times and sat until his death in 1982. He had previously been a deputy representative from 1954–1957.
Bakken was mayor of Øymark municipality in the periods 1947–1951, 1951–1955, 1955–1959, 1959–1963 and its successor municipality Marker from 1963–1967.