Karen Carter Peterson (original) (raw)

Karen Carter Peterson (born November 1, 1969) is an American lawyer and 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 on April 9, 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. Since 2008, Peterson has served as Democratic National Committeewoman for Louisiana. In 2017, Peterson was elected vice chair of civic engagement and voter participation for the Democratic National Committee. In July 2022, Peterson accepted a plea deal with federal prosecutors in a case involving diversion of state Democratic party funds she used to cover gambling debts.