Karen Camper

Karen Camper
Camper in 2023
Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office January 8, 2019
Preceded by	Craig Fitzhugh
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives from the 87th district
Incumbent
Assumed office March 31, 2008
Preceded by	Gary Rowe
Personal details
Born	(1958-01-15) January 15, 1958 (age 66) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Education	State University of New York, Albany University of Tennessee, Knoxville (BA)
Website	Official website
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	United States Army
Rank	Chief Warrant Officer

Karen D. Camper^[1] (born January 15, 1958) is an American politician and a Democratic member of the Tennessee House of Representatives representing District 87 since her special election March 31, 2008 to fill the vacancy caused by the death of Gary Rowe.^[2] She was a candidate for the 2023 Memphis mayoral election.^[3]

Education

Camper attended the University of Tennessee and earned her AS from the University at Albany, SUNY.^[4]

Career

Elections

• 2012 Camper was unopposed for both the August 2, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 4,917 votes,^[5] and the November 6, 2012 General election, winning with 18,282 votes.^[6]
• 2008 Camper was challenged in the August 7, 2008 Democratic Primary, winning with 2,242 votes (66.8%),^[7] and was unopposed for the November 4, 2008 General election, winning with 11,733 votes.^[8]
• 2010 Camper was challenged in the August 5, 2010 Democratic Primary, winning with 3,075 votes (75.6%),^[9] and was unopposed for the November 2, 2010 General election, winning with 6,111 votes.^[10]

Tenure

Camper with leaders of the Tennessee College Democrats in 2023

Camper was elected on December 17, 2018, to be the Leader of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus, the first African-American leader in the Tennessee House of Representatives.^[11]

On November 11, 2022, Camper announced she was running in the 2023 Memphis mayoral election.^[3]

Personal life

Camper is baptist. She is divorced and has a child named Bruce, Jr.^[4]

References

1. "Karen Camper's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
2. "Rep. Karen D. Camper". Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
3. "House Minority Leader Karen Camper to run for Memphis mayor". APNews.com. Associated Press. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
4. "Representative Karen D. Camper". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
5. "State of Tennessee August 2, 2012 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee Secretary of State. p. 195. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
6. "State of Tennessee November 6, 2012 General Election" (PDF). Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee Secretary of State. p. 92. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
7. "State of Tennessee August 7, 2008 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee Secretary of State. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
8. "State of Tennessee November 4, 2008 General Election" (PDF). Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee Secretary of State. p. 26. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 13, 2015. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
9. "State of Tennessee August 5, 2010 Democratic Primary" (PDF). Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee Secretary of State. p. 66. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
10. "State of Tennessee November 2, 2010 State General" (PDF). Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee Secretary of State. p. 71. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 13, 2014. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
11. Meet Karen Camper, the first African-American to lead Tennessee's House Democrats, The Tennessean

External links

• Official page at the Tennessee General Assembly
• Campaign site
• Profile at Vote Smart
• Karen Camper at Ballotpedia
• Karen Camper at the National Institute on Money in State Politics

Tennessee House of Representatives
Preceded by Craig Fitzhugh	Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives 2019–present	Incumbent