Karen Kwan

Office held

On the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot

Karen Kwan is a candidate for Utah Senate, District 12. The ballot lists Karen Kwan, Democratic. The district covers all or part of Salt Lake County.

Everyone on the ballot for this seat

Listed in ballot order. Source: Utah Lieutenant Governor's Office, Amended 2026 General Election Certification (PDF). 2026 election guide

Voting record

All votes by Karen Kwan

Psychology and higher education

Karen Kwan holds bachelor's and master's degrees in psychology and clinical psychology from Pepperdine University and a doctorate in educational leadership and policy from the University of Utah. Her Senate caucus biography describes a career teaching psychology at Salt Lake Community College, where she is professor emeritus and was named Distinguished Faculty Lecturer in 2014. ^[1]

Community work and representation

Kwan's biography traces community work to the Asian Association of Utah and the University of Utah's Center for Ethnic Student Affairs. It also records involvement in OCA-Utah, the Governor's Asian-American Council and the Chinese Railroad Workers Descendants Association. The caucus describes her as the first Chinese American to serve in the Utah Legislature, placing that service within a longer history of cultural and educational advocacy. ^[1]

From the House to the Senate

Kwan served in the Utah House before her 2023 appointment to Senate District 12. The current district includes West Valley City, Taylorsville and Kearns communities. She is identified as minority whip. Her caucus biography emphasizes local business, education, senior care and language access. The 2017 start shown for her overall legislative career should be distinguished from her later arrival in the Senate. ^{[1] [2]}

In the 2026 General Session, Karen Kwan was chief sponsor of S.B. 29, Child Care Advisory Committee Amendments. It would have extended the sunset date of the Child Care Advisory Committee. The Senate passed it and a House committee reported it favorably, but it did not receive a final House vote, and it was filed on March 6, 2026. ^[3]

In the 2026 General Session, Karen Kwan was chief sponsor of S.B. 53, Public Land Management Advisory Board Amendments. It would have added the state historic preservation officer and the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration director, or their designees, to the Public Land Management Advisory Board. It failed in the Senate, and it was filed on March 6, 2026. ^[4]

Transport, workforce and public spending

The current roster lists Kwan on Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services and Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology, alongside Rules and Ethics. Higher Education and Transportation and Infrastructure appropriations assignments add budget responsibilities, and the Federalism Commission adds intergovernmental work. These are the places to follow her current hearings and deliberations; a caucus policy statement and an individual recorded vote remain different forms of evidence. ^[2]

Profile sources

Profile refreshed October 20, 2026. Candidate statements describe the candidate's own experience or positions; official records and reporting are labeled separately.

1. Utah Senate Democrats — Karen Kwan biography and legislation · Official record
2. Utah Legislature — official member record and committee assignments · Official record
3. Utah Legislature, S.B. 29 Child Care Advisory Committee Amendments · Official record
4. Utah Legislature, S.B. 53 Public Land Management Advisory Board Amendments · Official record

From the Legislature's roster

Profession

Associate Professor

Education

B.A. Psychology and M.A. Clinical Psychology - Pepperdine University; Ed.D. Educational Leadership and Policy - University of Utah Psychology

Committees

• Executive Appropriations Committee
• Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee
• Transportation and Infrastructure Appropriations Subcommittee
• Economic Development and Workforce Services Interim Committee
• Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Interim Committee
• General Oversight Committee
• Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Confirmation Committee
• Federalism Commission
• Legislative Management Committee
• Senate Retirement and Independent Entities Confirmation Committee
• Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee
• Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Confirmation Committee
• Senate Economic Development and Workforce Services Committee
• Senate Ethics Committee
• Senate Rules Committee
• Senate Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy, and Technology Committee
• Subcommittee on Oversight

As listed by the Utah Legislature.

In the news

No Utah Ledger stories name Karen Kwan yet.