Karen D. Camper (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. She is a candidate for the 2023 Memphis mayoral election. Education Camper attended the University of Tennessee and earned her AS from the University at Albany, SUNY. Career Elections 2012 Camper was unopposed for both the August 2, 2012 Democratic Primary, winning with 4,917 votes, and the November 6, 2012 General election, winning with 18,282 votes. 2008 Camper was challenged in the August 7, 2008 Democratic Primary, winning with 2,242 votes (66.8%), and was unopposed for the November 4, 2008 General election, winning with 11,733 votes. 2010 Camper was challenged in the August 5, 2010 Democratic Primary, winning with 3,075 votes (75.6%), and was unopposed for the November 2, 2010 General election, winning with 6,111 votes. Tenure 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. On November 11, 2022, Camper announced she was running in the 2023 Memphis mayoral election. Personal life Camper is baptist. She is divorced and has a child named Bruce, Jr. References External links Official page at the Tennessee General Assembly Campaign site Karen Camper at Ballotpedia Karen Camper at the National Institute on Money in State Politics 1958 births 20th-century African-American people 21st-century African-American women 21st-century African-American politicians 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians African-American female military personnel African-American state legislators in Tennessee African-American women in politics Living people Democratic Party members of the Tennessee House of Representatives Place of birth missing (living people) Politicians from Memphis, Tennessee United States Army officers University at Albany, SUNY alumni University of Tennessee alumni Women state legislators in Tennessee Women in the United States Army 20th-century African-American women Women opposition leaders African-American United States Army personnel