Karen Camper
Tennessee State Representative, District 87 since 2008. Ran in 10 elections between 2008 and 2024, winning 10. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2028.
Tennessee State Representative, District 87Born 1958Teacher
- In office
- 18 yrs
- Since 2008
- Bills became law
- 22
- 47 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 0.1%
- Chamber median 0.2%
- With party
- 92%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +80.2
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2028
- Nov 7, 2028
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Calendar and Rules
- Government Operations
- Government Operations
- Select Ethics
- Select Rules
- Ways and Means
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Boating · Became law Mar 2026
Nurses · Failed in the House May 2026
Dept. of · Failed in the House Apr 2026
Historical Sites and Preservation · Failed in the House Apr 2026
Licenses · Failed in the House Apr 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Camper sits in the Tennessee House of Representatives
Camper is closer to the center than 60% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Sam McKenzie, Yusuf Hakeem, Harold Love
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:02 PM ET
With Camper’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats92%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Tennessee House of Representatives.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Camper’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Camper | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 23, 2026 | SB 2085: Victims' Rights - As enacted, authorizes a court clerk to increase the victims assistance… | No | No | Yes | Passed 77–16 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | SJR 1205: Memorials, Public Service - Sheriff Tom Spangler - | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 79–10 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | SJR 1182: Memorials, Public Service - Glenn Jacobs, Mayor of Knox County - | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 76–10 |
| Apr 23, 2026 | SB 1585: Education - As enacted, revises the assessment testing requirements for students who… | No | No | Yes | Passed 54–39 |
| Apr 22, 2026 | SB 714: Education - As enacted, requires an educational oversight board to be created for an LEA… | Yes | Yes | No | Failed 13–72 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Camper was on a ballot. Filled marks are general elections won; hollow marks are primaries; an orange outline is a loss.
Source: 99chambers results archive (MEDSL, Klarner, state election offices)
Elections
Margin against the seat’s presidential baseline: how the seat voted for president in the same or nearest year.
| Year | Race | Result | Margin | Seat | +/− |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | D+80.2 | D+67.1 | +13.1 |
| 2024 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | D+67.1 | — |
| 2022 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | D+75.3 | — |
| 2020 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2018 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2016 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2014 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
| 2012 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2010 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
| 2008 | Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Seats Camper has held
- Tennessee House of Representatives, District 87 · since 2008
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Camper has run against
- Reggie Hall (R) · 2026 election, won
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: civicAPI (unofficial)
How we know Camper
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/807f5a72-fe61-460c-86a3-c65a6b9eaca1
- Wikidata Q16192638
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:52 PM ET