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 District 5, 5 District or 5th District may refer to:
Europe
* District 5 (Zürich)
* District 5, Düsseldorf
* V District, Turku
* Districts of Malta#District 5, District 5, an electoral district of Malta
* Districts of Malta#District 5 2, Distric ...
until her resignation in 2022. She also served as the chair of the
Louisiana Democratic Party
The Louisiana Democratic Party (french: Parti démocrate de Louisiane) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Louisiana.
Dominated by the conservative planter elite through much of the 19th century, the party was historically p ...
from 2012 to 2020, becoming the first female chair of the state party.
In 2008, Peterson became as Democratic National Committeewoman for
Louisiana
Louisiana , group=pronunciation (French: ''La Louisiane'') is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It is the 20th-smallest by area and the 25th most populous of the 50 U.S. states. Louisiana is borde ...
. In 2017, Peterson was elected vice chair of civic engagement and voter participation for the
Democratic National Committee.
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.
Early life and education
Peterson was born and raised in
, the daughter of Ken and Gwen Carter. Her father was the first
African American
African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...
to become a tax assessor in New Orleans. Peterson graduated from Mercy Academy and in 1991 received a Bachelor of Arts degree in international business and marketing from
Howard University
Howard University (Howard) is a Private university, private, University charter#Federal, federally chartered historically black research university in Washington, D.C. It is Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, classifie ...
in Washington, D.C. Peterson then returned to New Orleans to earn a
Juris Doctor from
Tulane University Law School
Tulane University Law School is the law school of Tulane University. It is located on Tulane's Uptown campus in New Orleans, Louisiana. Established in 1847, it is the 12th oldest law school in the United States.
In addition to the usual common ...
in 1995.
Career
Louisiana House of Representatives
Peterson served as a member of the
Louisiana House of Representatives for District 93 from 1999 to 2010. Peterson served as
House Speaker Pro Tempore from 2008 to 2010.
Louisiana State Senate
In 2010, Peterson won a special election to the
Louisiana State Senate from the
5th district District 5, 5 District or 5th District may refer to:
Europe
* District 5 (Zürich)
* District 5, Düsseldorf
* V District, Turku
* Districts of Malta#District 5, District 5, an electoral district of Malta
* Districts of Malta#District 5 2, Distric ...
after her predecessor,
Cheryl Gray Evans, resigned. Peterson served the remainder of Evans' term. In 2011, 2015 and 2010, Peterson was re-elected to full four-year terms.
Chair of the Louisiana Democratic Party
In the spring of 2012, Senator Peterson was elected Chair of the
Louisiana Democratic Party
The Louisiana Democratic Party (french: Parti démocrate de Louisiane) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Louisiana.
Dominated by the conservative planter elite through much of the 19th century, the party was historically p ...
by the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee, ousting former chair
Claude "Buddy" Leach by a vote of 85 to 75.
Peterson's tenure as chair was marred by controversy when it emerged that she pressured then state representative
John Bel Edwards
John Bel Edwards (born September 16, 1966) is an American politician and attorney serving as the 56th governor of Louisiana since 2016. A member of the Democratic Party, he previously served as the Democratic leader of the Louisiana House of ...
to drop out of the
2015 Louisiana gubernatorial election
The 2015 Louisiana gubernatorial election was held on November 21, 2015, to elect the governor of Louisiana. Incumbent Republican Governor Bobby Jindal was not eligible to run for re-election to a third term because of term limits established ...
so Democrats could rally around a moderate Republican to defeat the perceived frontrunner, U.S. Senator
David Vitter
David Bruce Vitter (born May 3, 1961) is an American lobbyist, lawyer, and politician who served as United States Senator for Louisiana from 2005 to 2017.
A Republican, Vitter served in the Louisiana House of Representatives from 1992 to 1999. ...
. Edwards refused and went on to defeat Vitter by a twelve-point margin.
BOLD political organization
Peterson is a political protégé of
Jim Singleton, a former city councilman and the leader of the powerful
Black Organization for Leadership Development (BOLD), which has repeatedly aligned itself in opposition to
William J. Jefferson and his
Progressive Democrats
The Progressive Democrats ( ga, An Páirtà Daonlathach, literally "The Democratic Party" ), commonly referred to as the PDs, was a conservative-liberal political party in the Republic of Ireland.
Launched on 21 December 1985 by Desmond O'Ma ...
. With the help of BOLD, Peterson was elected in 1999 to the Louisiana state legislature as a representative for the 93rd district, which encompasses New Orleans, the upper French Quarter, and parts of Central City and Mid-City. In the state legislature, she was one of the most vocal supporters of a plan to reform the New Orleans public school system by putting it under state control. With state senator
Walter Boasso, she was also a leader in the protracted but successful consolidation of a multiplicity of levee boards to prevent a repetition of uncoordinated responses that exacerbated the failures of the New Orleans Levee system during
Hurricane Katrina. The bill was heavily backed by local business leaders. The bill failed, but a similar version passed in a special session in early 2006. Before Katrina, the Governor selected levee board commissioners. After the legislation passed, the selections were made by a local blue-ribbon committee.
Wire fraud case and resignations
Peterson stepped down as Chair of the
Louisiana Democratic Party
The Louisiana Democratic Party (french: Parti démocrate de Louisiane) is the affiliate of the Democratic Party in the state of Louisiana.
Dominated by the conservative planter elite through much of the 19th century, the party was historically p ...
in 2020; it was later discovered that she had diverted state party funds to various vendors, in order to cover her debts accumulated as a consequence of a gambling addiction.
[Court records detail Karen Carter Peterson wire fraud scheme Her attorney says she has agreed to plea deal]
'' Louisiana Illuminator'', Greg LaRose, July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.[Peterson pushed Edwards campaign, Democratic Party to work with firms in fraud scheme]
'' Louisiana Illuminator'', Greg LaRose, July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022. This followed a revelation in May 2019 that she had violated a self-imposed ban on entering casinos.
On April 9, 2022, Peterson resigned from her Senate post, attributing her action to depression, and an addiction to gambling.
[Peterson cited gambling addiction in explaining her decision to step down](_blank)
'' The Advocate'', Gordon Russell and Tyler Bridges, April 9, 2022. Retrieved April 11, 2022. On April 11, 2022, it was disclosed by a source familiar with the investigation that she was the subject of a probe by the
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...
(FBI), for financial crimes that were said to be related to her admitted gambling addiction.
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.
[ She admitted to using over $140,000 of the party's money on casino gambling. On January 11, 2023, Peterson was sentenced to 22 months in prison for wire fraud.][
]
Congressional campaigns
2006
Peterson was a candidate for U.S. Congress in Louisiana's 2nd congressional district
Louisiana's 2nd congressional district contains nearly all of the city of New Orleans and stretches west and north to Baton Rouge. The district is currently represented by Democrat Troy Carter. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+25, ...
map
in the mid-term election of November 2006. She, along with several other candidates, challenged incumbent Democrat Bill Jefferson
William Jennings Jefferson (born March 14, 1947) is an American former politician from Louisiana whose career ended after his corruption scandal and conviction. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for nine terms from 1991 ...
, who was the subject of an FBI
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...
investigation. She finished in second place with 19,972 votes (21.6% of the total votes cast), and therefore she and Jefferson entered a runoff round of voting on December 9, 2006. Jefferson prevailed by a 57%-43% margin, the lowest since his original election in 1990.
Peterson received endorsements from prominent Republican
Republican can refer to:
Political ideology
* An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law.
** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...
businessmen Joe Canizaro and Donald T. "Boysie" Bollinger. She was also endorsed by both the Louisiana State Democratic Party and the Orleans Parish branch of the Democratic Party. She centered her campaign around the argument that Jefferson's corruption scandal left New Orleans with a lack of credible and respected representation in Congress. Jefferson, in turn, accused Peterson of profiting from no-bid "sweetheart" contracts with the New Orleans City Council as their legal advisor for utility regulation. In 2009, Jefferson was convicted of eleven felonies.
2021
In November 2020, Representative Cedric Richmond of the 2nd district announced that he would resign from Congress in January 2021, after being appointed by President-elect Joe Biden to be Senior Advisor to the President
Senior Advisor to the President is a title used by high-ranking political advisors to the president of the United States. White House senior advisors are senior members of the White House Office. The title has been formally used since 1993.
Res ...
and director of the Office of Public Liaison
The White House Office of Public Engagement is a unit of the White House Office within the Executive Office of the President of the United States. Under the administration of President Barack Obama, it was called the White House Office of Publ ...
. Shortly thereafter, Peterson launched a campaign website, indicating her intention to run for the seat.
Peterson received endorsements from Stacey Abrams
Stacey Yvonne Abrams (; born December 9, 1973) is an American politician, lawyer, voting rights activist, and author who served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2017, serving as minority leader from 2011 to 2017. A member ...
in January, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus
The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) is a congressional caucus affiliated with the Democratic Party in the United States Congress. The CPC represents the most left-leaning faction of the Democratic Party. " e Congressional Progressive Cau ...
in March.
Peterson received 23% of the vote in the first round, and advanced to the second round with Troy Carter. On March 29, 2021, she was endorsed by Gary Chambers
Gary Chambers Jr. (born August 5, 1985) is an American civil rights activist and perennial candidate from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. A progressive member of the Democratic Party, Chambers ran unsuccessfully in the 2022 United States Senate electio ...
, the third-place finisher in the primary,
A Carter campaign ad implied that a 2004 law sponsored by Peterson led to the layoffs of 7,000 teachers and school workers in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. That wasn't true, according to several supporters of the 2004 law, which allowed a new state entity, the Recovery School District, to take over failing schools in New Orleans' troubled school system after Katrina. Carter's ad featured former teachers and principals, including Eddy Oliver, who linked 2004 law with the post-Katrina layoffs, a persistent issue among those who lost their jobs in the process and which has become a symbol of the decline afterward of the New Orleans Black middle class. The act allowed the RSD, which the Legislature had created the year before, to take over a handful of failing New Orleans schools. It was vigorously supported by Democratic Governor Kathleen Blanco
Kathleen Marie Blanco (née Babineaux; December 15, 1942 – August 18, 2019) was an American politician who served as the 54th Governor of Louisiana from January 2004 to January 2008. A member of the Democratic Party, she was the first and, ...
and her state Superintendent of Education. Over a year afterward, weeks after Hurricane Katrina inundated New Orleans resulting in the closure of its schools, Blanco pushed Act 35, sponsored by Representative Carl Crane from Baton Rouge, through the Legislature. It allowed the RSD to take over all public K-12 schools in New Orleans. Peterson voted against the bill. Carter's campaign ad failed to mention this. Subsequently, the Orleans Parish School Board and the RSD transformed the city's K-12 education into exclusively charter schools.
Peterson received the endorsement of New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell
LaToya Cantrell (''née'' Wilder; born April 3, 1972) is an American politician serving as the Mayor of New Orleans, Louisiana since May 7, 2018. A Democrat, Cantrell is the first woman to hold the office. Before becoming mayor, Cantrell repres ...
on April 7, just three days before the beginning of early voting. Cantrell said, "I'm proud to stand by my friend, to stand by a true partner, a woman who is fearless but who takes the risks that need to be taken," Cantrell said, "It’s all about getting things done."
In the April 24th runoff, Carter beat Peterson 48,511 (55.2%) to 39,295 (44.8%), with 87,806 votes reported from 100% of precincts.
Political positions
Karen Peterson is a progressive Democrat, advocating Medicare for All
Single-payer healthcare is a type of universal healthcare in which the costs of essential healthcare for all residents are covered by a single public system (hence "single-payer").
Single-payer systems may contract for healthcare services from ...
, criminal justice, police reform and legislation to combat climate change
In common usage, climate change describes global warming—the ongoing increase in global average temperature—and its effects on Earth's climate system. Climate change in a broader sense also includes previous long-term changes to ...
. In 2014, Peterson endorsed Senator Mary Landrieu
Mary Loretta Landrieu ( ; born November 23, 1955) is an American entrepreneur and politician who served as a United States senator from Louisiana from 1997 to 2015. A member of the Democratic Party, Landrieu served as the Louisiana State Treas ...
for re-election.
Obamacare
Peterson is a proponent of Obamacare
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), formally known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and colloquially known as Obamacare, is a landmark U.S. federal statute enacted by the 111th United States Congress and signed into law by Pres ...
and Federal Medicaid
Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with healthcare costs for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid also offers benefits not normally covered by Medicare, including nursing home care and per ...
expansion. In a statement to the state Senate, she argued that critics of Obamacare were motivated by race. The statement drew criticism from Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Bobby Jindal and the leader of the Louisiana Republican Party, Roger F. Villere, Jr. As a result of the controversy, State Senator Elbert Guillory
Elbert Lee Guillory (born June 24, 1944) is a former member of the Louisiana State Senate. An American Republican, he represented District 24, including his native Opelousas, and several rural precincts, from May 2, 2009, when he won a special ...
returned to the Republican Party, the party to which he was once registered but later left to run for elected office.[Lauren McGaughey]
State Sen. Elbert Guillory, now a Republican, says Democratic Party chair remarks helped spur his switch
''Times-Picayune'', June 15, 2013.[Dave Weige]
''Slate'', June 19, 2013.
Tobacco taxation
Although generally a proponent of restrictions on state government spending instead of tax increases to close budgetary shortfalls, Peterson, an avowed non-smoker, supports higher taxes on tobacco and use of the consequent revenue to fund priorities of the Louisiana Healthier Families Act. Her 2009 House Bill 889 (Louisiana Healthier Families Act), after heavy lobbying by both sides, failed in the Louisiana House of Representatives; she attributed the loss to "the national ambition of our governor", Bobby Jindal, whom she accurately predicted was interested in the presidency
A presidency is an administration or the executive, the collective administrative and governmental entity that exists around an office of president of a state or nation. Although often the executive branch of government, and often personified b ...
and wanted to seek that office without a tax increase on his record.
Same-sex marriage
In a statement as follows, Peterson endorsed U.S. President Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the ...
's support for same-sex marriage
Same-sex marriage, also known as gay marriage, is the marriage of two people of the same sex or gender. marriage between same-sex couples is legally performed and recognized in 33 countries, with the most recent being Mexico, constituting ...
:
President Barack Obama demonstrated the courage and leadership in his statement on marriage equality today that those of us who support him have always admired. It was particularly moving to hear him discuss how his views had evolved on this subject over the years. The change was not the result of some intellectual exercise or political calculation; it was the result of seeing the lives of friends and acquaintances in same-sex relationships that changed his thinking on the issue. We are fortunate to have as our leader a man who is so committed to the principles of fairness and equality ...
Peterson has appointed to her leadership team Stephen Handwerk, the first openly gay man to serve as an officer of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Handwerk writes a weekly column for the ''Lafayette Daily Advertiser
''The Daily Advertiser'' is a Gannett daily newspaper based in Lafayette, Louisiana. ''The Daily Advertiser'' covers international, national, state, and local news in the six parishes of Lafayette, Acadia, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin, and ...
'' and is the Democratic commentator on FM radio station KPEL in Lafayette
Lafayette or La Fayette may refer to:
People
* Lafayette (name), a list of people with the surname Lafayette or La Fayette or the given name Lafayette
* House of La Fayette, a French noble family
** Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette (1757â ...
.
Evolution
In 2013, Peterson proposed repeal of the Louisiana Science Education Act, a 2008 law which permits science teachers in public schools to use supplemental classroom materials to question evolution
Evolution is change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. These characteristics are the expressions of genes, which are passed on from parent to offspring during reproduction. Variation ...
as presented in science textbooks. The Senate Education Committee voted 3-2 on May 1, 2013, against the repeal. Over seventy Nobel Prize-winning scientists supported Peterson's bill and have urged that the state law be removed.
COVID-19 pandemic
Protesting against the failure of the Senate chamber to follow Centers for Disease Control
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the national public health agency of the United States. It is a United States federal agency, under the Department of Health and Human Services, and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgi ...
's recommended COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...
mask-wearing policy, Peterson refused to attend sessions and missed 85% of her votes of the Louisiana State Senate in 2020. She was later criticized in attack ads for accepting her pay during this protest.
Personal life
Peterson lives in New Orleans' Warehouse District. Her husband, Dana Peterson, is a political consultant.[Michelle Krupa]
2nd District Congressional Race: James Carter is working behind the scenes
''Times-Picayune'', August 18, 2008. Peterson appeared in Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee (born March 20, 1957) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks, has produced more than 35 films since 1983. He made his directorial debut ...
's documentary about Hurricane Katrina, ''When the Levees Broke
''When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts'' is a 2006 documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans, Louisiana following the failure of the levees during Hurricane Katrina. It was filmed in late August and ...
''.
When Peterson resigned her senate seat on April 9, 2022, the reasons she cited were an addiction to gambling as well as mood depression as a related condition.
Peterson is Catholic
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...
.
References
External links
Louisiana Senate - Karen C. Peterson
government website
Karen Carter Peterson
campaign website
*
Democratic Leadership Council profile
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peterson, Karen Carter
1969 births
21st-century African-American politicians
21st-century African-American women
21st-century American politicians
21st-century American women politicians
African-American Catholics
American people convicted of mail and wire fraud
Candidates in the 2006 United States elections
Candidates in the 2021 United States elections
Democratic Party Louisiana state senators
Democratic Party members of the Louisiana House of Representatives
Howard University alumni
Lawyers from New Orleans
Living people
Louisiana politicians convicted of crimes
People with mood disorders
Politicians convicted of mail and wire fraud
Politicians from New Orleans
Louisiana State Democratic Chairmen
Tulane University Law School alumni
Women state legislators in Louisiana