Karen is a community activist, experienced professional, and candidate for the State House in Legislative District 4.
Karen is a third-generation Arizonan and has deep roots in the state. Karen attended public schools and graduated from Arizona State University, earning a BS in Accountancy. After working as a CPA at Deloitte and Phelps Dodge, Karen retired from accounting to raise her three sons, Cole, Troy, and Noah.
Since then, Karen has volunteered in the classroom, on PTO boards, for public education candidates, and for several charitable organizations with the goal of creating a better Arizona. Having lost her mother to Leukemia, she finds purpose in volunteering for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, advocating for public education, and championing critical public policy issues at the State Legislature.
As the current President of the Madison Elementary School District’s governing board, Karen knows what Arizona schools, teachers, and students need. Karen is deeply passionate about education, and improving our schools. Karen is eager to get to the state legislature to deliver results to everyday Arizonans.
Flip the Legislature
Karen is running for the AZ State House of Representative in Legislative District 4 to help fight back against harmful policies led by Republicans. Abortion restrictions, including the recent 1864 abortion ban, universal voucher expansion for private schools, as well as a slew of defeats for good legislation led by Democrats have motivated Karen to run and take back a seat for Democrats. Karen has been active at the state capitol, testifying in opposition to harmful gun bills, marching with teachers advocating for public education, and witnessing the ineffective governing by Republicans in charge.
Education
Arizona has been in an education deficit for decades, as legislation by Republicans in the Arizona legislature have decimated funding. Karen is dedicated to funding our public schools, shown through her experience as the President of the Madison Elementary School District’s governing board and her time in the Arizona public school system.
Gun Safety
At a time when the GOP majority at the Arizona legislature continues to refuse to hear common sense gun legislation to help make children safer, the GOP is pushing to allow guns on college and university campuses. Children deserve to go to school without fear of gun violence, and Karen will be a strong advocate for common sense gun legislation in Phoenix.
As Arizona’s Legislative District 4 is one of the most competitive districts in the state, to flip this district from the current Republican representative to a Democrat would end the GOP lock on power by creating a tie in the house, and bring the state closer to a Democratic majority. We must elect Karen to advance common sense Democratic legislation and block harmful policies brought forth by the Arizona GOP.
Last day to register for primary: July 1, 2024
Deadline to request absentee ballot (primary) July 19, 2024
Date of primary: July 30, 2024
Last day to register for general: October 7, 2024
Deadline to request absentee ballot (general) October 25, 2024
Date of general: November 5, 2024
LD 4 is one of the most competitive districts–if not the most competitive–in the state. In recent years, it has moved from a solidly Republican district to a swing district. Like many districts with such a profile, it is highly educated and highly affluent, sitting top two statewide on most income metrics and highest statewide on most education metrics. As of 2023, there are 70 precincts in the district, all in Maricopa, with a total registered voter population of 168,929. The district has an overall population of 244,298.
2022 Legislative District 4 State Senate Results:
Democrat: 50.48%
Republican: 49.52%
2022 Legislative District 4 State House Results:
Matt Gress (R): 34.72%
Laura Terech (D): 33.46%
Maria Syms (R): 31.82%
2022 Governor Results:
Democrat: 52.07%
Republican: 47.93%
2020 Presidential Results:
Biden: 49.85%
Trump: 48.97%
Current State Representative Matt Gress is the former budget director for Governor Ducey and thus the architect of his budgetary decisions, including the flat tax which nonpartisan budget analysis blames for Arizona’s current budget deficit. He also sponsored five fetal personhood bills, publicly stating that the government shouldn’t fine people for “recognizing their pre-born baby as the person that they are;” later, he called the idea that he had sponsored fetal personhood bills “a lie” in a press release. He also went on record stating his opposition to repealing Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban, voted to keep it in place multiple times, and lied about voting to keep it in place, only changing his story when confronted with video evidence that he had done so. The challenge in defeating him, however, is that he is flush with funding, connections, and press credibility as a “moderate” from his time as Ducey’s budget director.
Pamela Carter is a former candidate for Scottsdale City Council, former staffer on the Trump 2020 campaign, and former fitness program host now serving on the board of a Christian youth ministry. She has gone on record supporting Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban, the radical groups monitoring dropboxes in past elections, and expelled former Representative Liz Harris. She is also the candidate with the most public and visible ties to the Trump/MAGA wing of the party.
Democrats need 2 seats in the State House and Senate to gain a majority and a Democratic trifecta! We must elect Karen to the State House to defend democracy and protect abortion in this important Presidential & US Senate battleground state.
Checks can be sent to:
Sister District Project
440 North Barranca Avenue, #8737
Covina, California 91723
