Karen Kwan (born February 12, 1964) is an American politician who has served in the

Utah House of Representatives The Utah House of Representatives is the lower house of the Utah State Legislature, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Utah. The House is composed of 75 representatives elected from single member constituent districts. Each district cont ...

from the 34th district since 2017. Kwan also serves as the House Minority Whip.

Education

Kwan has a bachelor's degree in Psychology from

Pepperdine University Pepperdine University () is a private research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California. Pepperdine's main campus consists of 830 acres (340 ha) overlooking the Pacific Ocean and t ...

, an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership/Policy from the

University of Utah The University of Utah (U of U, UofU, or simply The U) is a public research university in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is the flagship institution of the Utah System of Higher Education. The university was established in 1850 as the University of De ...

, and a Masters in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.

Career

Kwan is an Associate Professor of Psychology at

Salt Lake Community College Salt Lake Community College (SLCC) is a public community college in Salt Lake County, Utah. It is the state's largest two-year college with the most diverse student body. It serves more than 60,000 students on 10 campuses as well as through onl ...

Public service

Kwan was first elected in 2016, defeating the Republican candidate. 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 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 ...

candidate. In 2020, Kwan was reelected to her third consecutive term by defeating Republican challenger David Young 57% to 43%. 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.

Political Positions and Significant Legislation

Tax Policy

Rep. Kwan supports having a Child Tax Credit. When speaking about President Biden's

American Rescue Plan The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package or American Rescue Plan, is a economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021, to sp ...

, 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."

Equal Rights Amendment

IN 2020, Kwan sponsored a resolution that would ratify the

Equal Rights Amendment The Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) is a proposed amendment to the United States Constitution designed to guarantee equal legal rights for all American citizens regardless of sex. Proponents assert it would end legal distinctions between men and ...

to the US Constitution. The bill did not receive any committee assignment or hearing.

Personal life

Kwan is married and has three daughters.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kwan, Karen 1964 births Asian-American people in Utah politics Living people Pepperdine University alumni University of Utah alumni Salt Lake Community College people 21st-century American politicians 21st-century American women politicians Women state legislators in Utah Democratic Party members of the Utah House of Representatives