Karen Kwan
Utah State Senator, District 12 since 2024. Ran in 7 elections between 2014 and 2024, winning 6. Re-elected in 2026. Next on the ballot in 2030.
Utah State Senator, District 12Born 1964
- In office
- 1 yr
- Since 2024
- Bills became law
- 5
- 12 sponsored, 2025–2026 session
- Votes missed
- 1.3%
- Chamber median 7.4%
- With party
- 94%
- On votes splitting the parties
- Last margin
- +36.1
- Won 2026
- Next election
- 2030
- Nov 5, 2030
Source: Wikidata, congress-legislators and Open States; 99chambers legislative recordsUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET
Committees
As of 2026-10.
- Economic Development and Workforce Services
- Economic Development and Workforce Services Confirmation
- Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim
- Ethics
- Executive Appropriations
- Federalism Commission
- Judicial Confirmation
- Legislative Management
- Public Utilities, Energy and Technology Interim
- Retirement and Independent Entities Confirmation
- Rules
- Rules Review and General Oversight
- Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy and Technology
- Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Confirmation
Source: Open States committeesUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 9:43 AM ET
Legislation
Department of Health and Human Services · Became law Mar 2026
Source: Open States billsUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 4:22 PM ET
Voting record
Where Kwan sits in the Utah State Senate
Kwan is closer to the center than 50% of the chamber's Democrats.
Closest: Jen Plumb, Stephanie Pitcher, Luz Escamilla
Source: 99chambers roll-call scalingUpdated Nov 6, 2026, 5:07 PM ET
With Kwan’s party
- Votes with the chamber's Democrats94%
- Cosponsorships of the other party's bills11%
Black tick: the average of Democrats in the Utah State Senate.
Source: 99chambers legislative scores from roll calls and cosponsorships
Key votes
Votes chosen for their effect, not their side: Kwan’s vote, each party’s majority, and the result. An orange vote differs from most Democrats.
| Date | Bill | Kwan | Dem. majority | Rep. majority | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 7, 2026 | HB 539: Public Safety Modifications | No | No | Yes | Passed 19–6 |
| Mar 7, 2026 | SB 242: Transportation Amendments | No | No | Yes | Passed 18–9 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | HB 514: Utah Energy Council Amendments | No | No | Yes | Passed 22–5 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | HB 261: Electronic Information Privacy Act Amendments | No | No | Yes | Passed 22–5 |
| Mar 6, 2026 | HB 219: Higher Education Civics Amendments | Yes | No | Yes | Passed 17–3 |
Source: 99chambers key votes from Congress.gov, Voteview and Open States roll calls
Career
Offices held, and every time Kwan 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 | Utah State Senate, District 12 | Won | D+36.1 | D+6.6 | +29.5 |
| 2024 | Utah State Senate, District 12 | Won | D+12.9 | D+6.6 | +6.3 |
| 2022 | Utah House of Representatives, District 31 | Won | D+23.7 | D+16.9 | +6.8 |
| 2020 | Utah House of Representatives, District 34 | Won | D+14.0 | — | — |
| 2018 | Utah House of Representatives, District 34 | Won | D+19.9 | — | — |
| 2016 | Utah House of Representatives, District 34 | Won | D+8.9 | — | — |
| 2014 | Utah House of Representatives, District 34 | Lost | R+6.7 | — | — |
| 2014 | Utah House of Representatives, District 34 (primary) | Won | — | — | — |
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office (unofficial)Updated Nov 8, 2026, 7:01 PM ET
Campaign money, 2025–26
- Raised
- $147.6K
- Spent
- $90.5K
- Cash
- $86.3K
Source: Utah Lieutenant Governor filings through Sep 28, 2026Updated Oct 15, 2026, 1:03 AM ET
Campaign committees
Open committees can still raise and spend money.
| Kwan, Karen State | Active |
Source: Utah Lieutenant Governor filings through Sep 28, 2026Updated Oct 15, 2026, 1:03 AM ET
Seats Kwan has held
- Utah State Senate, District 12 · since 2024
- Utah House of Representatives, District 31 · 2022–2024
- Utah House of Representatives, District 34 · 2016–2022
Source: 99chambers results archive
Who Kwan has run against
- Deidre Tyler (R) · 2026 election, won
- Judy Weeks-Rohner (R) · 2024 election, won
- Andrew G. Nieto (R) · 2022 election, won
- David Young (R) · 2020 election, won
- Macade Jensen (R) · 2016 election, won
- Johnny Anderson (R) · 2014 election, lost
Source: 99chambers results archive; 2026: Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office (unofficial)
How we know Kwan
One person, matched across every source we use.
- Open States ocd-person/3ceb7500-0ea7-46ef-9a75-d00d378b86b7
- Wikidata Q59661129
Source: Identity links: Wikidata, congress-legislators, Open States, FECUpdated Oct 27, 2026, 1:51 PM ET