Karen Camper

Karen Camper
Camper in 2023
Minority Leader of the Tennessee House of Representatives
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 8, 2019
Preceded byCraig Fitzhugh
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives
from the 87th district
Incumbent
Assumed office
March 31, 2008
Preceded byGary Rowe
Personal details
Born (1958-01-15) January 15, 1958
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
PartyDemocratic
SpouseDivorced
Children1
EducationSUNY Albany (AS)
University of Tennessee (BA)
WebsiteHouse website
Military career
Allegiance United States
Branch
 United States Army
Rank
Chief Warrant Officer

Karen D. Camper (born January 15, 1958) is an American politician serving as Tennessee's House Minority Leader, a position she has held since 2019. She is the first Black person to serve as a party leader in the Tennessee House of Representatives. A member of the Democratic Party, Camper has served as the representative for the 87th district since 2008. She was a candidate in the 2023 Memphis mayoral election.

Early life and education

Karen D. Camper was born on January 15, 1958, in Memphis, Tennessee. While she was still young, her family relocated to Chicago. Camper was raised in the Robert Taylor Homes, a large public housing project on the city's South Side.[1]

When she was 11, Camper's uncle passed away, triggering a move back to Memphis. She graduated from South Side High School, and then left the state once more to attend the University at Albany, where she earned an AS[2] — she later returned to Tennessee to study computer science at the University of Tennessee. However, before her junior year, Camper was recruited to the United States Army.[1]

Career

Though she initially intended to spend only four years with the military before returning to complete her degree, Camper eventually worked over two decades in the Army. While serving, she spent time in Hawaii, Korea, and Germany.[1] During her tenure, she reached the rank of chief warrant officer.[3]

After returning to the States, Camper began working as a substitute teacher for Memphis City Schools.[2] She also opened a nonprofit organization aimed to teach young people interested in the performing arts the business skills useful for succeeding in the entertainment industry.[1]

Tennessee House of Representatives (2008–present)

Elections

Camper with leaders of the Tennessee College Democrats in 2023

Camper's first election was for a seat on the Memphis City Council. She lost the election; however, in 2008, she was appointed by the Shelby County Commission to represent the 87th district in the Tennessee House of Representatives after incumbent Gary Rowe died in office.[1] Camper later won the special election to complete the term.[4]

In 2008, Camper was challenged in the Democratic primary by Jennings Bernard. She handily won the election with 66.8 percent of the votes,[5] and was unopposed in the subsequent general election.[6] In 2010, Camper was again challenged in the primary election, this time by Justin H. Settles. She increased her margin, winning 75.6 percent of the votes,[7] and again ran unopposed in the general election.[8] In 2012, Camper was unopposed in both the primary[9] and general elections.[10]

Tenure

Camper was elected on December 17, 2018, to be the Leader of the Tennessee House Democratic Caucus, making her the first Black party leader in the Tennessee House of Representatives.[3][11] In 2024, she defeated G. A. Hardaway to retain the position.[12]

On November 11, 2022, Camper announced she was running in the 2023 Memphis mayoral election.[13]

Personal life

Camper is a Baptist. She is divorced and has one child. [2]

Camper is an honorary member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She was inducted into the Alpha Omega Chapter on July 11, 2026 at the Grand Boule in Nashville, Tennessee.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Gainey, Blaise (September 28, 2023). "Politician, retired Army vet and international lip sync champion: Meet Tennessee House Minority Leader Karen Camper". WPLN-FM. Retrieved July 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. 1 2 3 "Representative Karen D. Camper". Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Bundgaard, Chris (December 12, 2018). "TN House Democratic Leader, Memphian Karen Camper, Is Ready To Get Down To Business". WATN-TV. Retrieved July 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Rep. Karen D. Camper". Nashville, Tennessee: Tennessee General Assembly. Retrieved March 18, 2014.
  5. ↑ "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.
  6. ↑ "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.
  7. ↑ "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.
  8. ↑ "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.
  9. ↑ "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.
  10. ↑ "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.
  11. ↑ Meet Karen Camper, the first African-American to lead Tennessee's House Democrats, The Tennessean
  12. ↑ Stockard, Sam (November 23, 2024). "Top two Tennessee House Democrats retain caucus leadership". Tennessee Lookout. Retrieved July 9, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ "House Minority Leader Karen Camper to run for Memphis mayor". APNews.com. Associated Press. November 11, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
  14. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/DaqXAhQlcFc/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
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