Karen Carter Peterson

Karen Peterson
Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party
In office
April 28, 2012 – September 12, 2020
Preceded byBuddy Leach
Succeeded byKatie Bernhardt
Member of the Louisiana Senate
from the 5th district
In office
March 9, 2010 – April 9, 2022
Preceded byCheryl Gray Evans
Succeeded byRoyce Duplessis
Member of the Louisiana House of Representatives
from the 93rd district
In office
March 9, 1999 – March 8, 2010
Preceded byAvery Alexander
Succeeded byHelena Moreno
Personal details
Born
Karen Ruth Carter[1]

(1969-11-01) November 1, 1969 (age 55)
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseDana Peterson
EducationHoward University (BA)
Tulane University (JD)

Karen Carter Peterson (born November 1, 1969) is an American lawyer and former politician who served as a member of the Louisiana State House from 1999 to 2010, then as the state senator from the 5th district until her resignation in 2022. She also served as the chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party from 2012 to 2020, becoming the first female chair of the state party.[2] In 2008, Peterson became as Democratic National Committeewoman for Louisiana. In 2017, Peterson was elected vice chair of civic engagement and voter participation for the Democratic National Committee.[3]

In April 2022, Peterson resigned from the Louisiana Senate, citing mental health issues and a gambling addiction. Later that year, she pled guilty to wire fraud charges and admitted to spending money from the state party and her campaign fund on gambling expenses.

In 2023, she was sentenced to 22 months in prison.[4]

  1. ^ "Karen Carter Peterson could make Louisiana history with run for Congress". February 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Anderson, Ed (April 29, 2012). "Karen Carter Peterson ousts Buddy Leach as leader of Louisiana Democratic Party". Times-Picayune. No. Saint Tammany Edition. p. A1. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  3. ^ "Democrats.org". Democrats.org. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  4. ^ "Ex-Louisiana lawmaker gets 22-month sentence for wire fraud". Associated Press. January 11, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2023.