Karen Kwan (politician)
Karen Kwan | |
|---|---|
关玉嬚 | |
| Minority Caucus Whip | |
| Member of the Utah State Senate from the 12th District | |
| Assumed office January 17, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Karen Mayne |
| Member of the Utah House of Representatives | |
| In office January 1, 2017 – January 17, 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Johnny Anderson |
| Succeeded by | Brett Garner |
| Constituency | 34th district (2017–2023) 31st district (2023) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 12, 1964 |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Pepperdine University (BA, MA), University of Utah (Ed.D) |
Karen Kwan (Simplified Chinese: 关玉嬚, born February 12, 1964) is an American politician serving Utah State Senate from the 12th district as minority whip.[1] On January 16, 2023 she was selected by delegates of the Utah Democratic Party to replace resigning Senator Karen Mayne.[2] Before her appointment to the Senate she served in the Utah House of Representatives, representing the 34th district from 2017 to 2023 (and briefly the 31st). She also previously served as the House Minority Whip.[3]
Education
Kwan has a bachelor's degree in psychology from Pepperdine University, an Ed.D. in educational leadership/policy from the University of Utah, and a master's degree in clinical psychology from Pepperdine University.[4]
Career
Kwan is an associate professor of psychology at Salt Lake Community College.[4]
Public service
Kwan was first elected in 2016, defeating the Republican candidate.[5]
During the 2018 legislative session, Kwan served on the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee; the Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations Subcommittee; the Political Subdivisions Committee, and the Transportation Committee.
Kwan was reelected in November 2018 with 60.03 percent of the vote, defeating the Republican candidate.[6][7] In 2020, Kwan was reelected to her third consecutive term by defeating Republican challenger David Young 57% to 43%.[8]
During the 2022 Legislative Session, Rep. Kwan served on the Executive Appropriations Committee, the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee, the House Education Committee, the House Transportation Committee, the Legislative Management Committee, and the Subcommittee on Oversight.[3]
Political Positions and Significant Legislation
Kwan has been serving as minority whip in the Senate Democratic Caucus since November, 2024.[9]
Tax Policy
Rep. Kwan supports having a Child Tax Credit. When speaking about President Biden's American Rescue Plan, she said the tax credit "benefitted approximately 491,000 Utah families, including more than 850,000 children, this year." In addition, she said that " the expanded Earned Income Tax Credit will serve about 138,000 Utah workers without dependent children."[10]
Equal Rights Amendment
In 2020, Kwan sponsored a resolution that would ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the US Constitution.[11] The bill did not receive any committee assignment or hearing.[12]
Election history
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Karen Kwan | 18,424 | 56.5% | |
| Republican | Judy Weeks-Rohner | 14,201 | 43.5% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Karen Kwan (incumbent) | 5,528 | 61.9% | |
| Republican | Andrew Nieto | 3,407 | 38.1% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Karen Kwan (incumbent) | 8,558 | 57.0% | |
| Republican | David Young | 6,458 | 43.0% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Karen Kwan (incumbent) | 7,042 | 60.0% | |
| Republican | David Young | 4,702 | 40.0% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Karen Kwan | 6,558 | 54.45% | |
| Republican | Macade Jensen | 5,485 | 45.55% | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Johnny Anderson (incumbent) | 3,901 | 53.4% | |
| Democratic | Karen Kwan | 3,408 | 46.6% | |
Personal life
Kwan resides in Kaysville, UT with her husband and three daughters.[14]
References
- ^ "Senator | Utah Senate". senate.utah.gov. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ Woodruff, Daniel (2023-01-16). "Rep. Karen Kwan wins special election to replace Sen. Karen Mayne". KUTV.com. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ a b "Karen Kwan". House of Representatives-State of Utah. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ a b "Karen Kwan biography". Votesmart.org. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
- ^ "Democrats may win more seats in the Utah State Legislature," Fox 13, Nov. 9, 2016
- ^ "Election results as of late Tuesday for Utah races, issues," Deseret News, Nov. 7, 2018
- ^ "Utah’s 2018 Midterm Elections Rundown," Daily Utah Chronicle, Nov 9, 2018
- ^ "Karen Kwan". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Utah Senate minority leadership will see familiar faces in 2025, but with a little restructuring • Utah News Dispatch". Utah News Dispatch. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ Bojórquez, Kim. "Biden administration outlines how it wants to help Utah families, roads and airports". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ Jones, McKhelyn. "ERA supporters rally on Utah's Capitol Hill". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "H.J.R. 7 Joint Resolution Ratifying an Amendment to the United States Constitution". Utah State Legislature. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
- ^ "Karen Kwan". Ballotpedia. Retrieved 2025-08-09.
- ^ Ritchey, Julia (2017-01-19). "Utah's First Chinese-American Lawmaker A Longtime Community Advocate". Kuer.org. Retrieved 2018-12-08.