Karen L. Thurman

From dKosopedia

Category: Florida Democrats

Karen Thurman (born January 12, 1951 in Rapid City, South Dakota) was a U.S. Representative from Florida from 1993 until 2003, when she lost a reelection bid due to her district being made significantly more Republican in redistricting.

Thurman was first elected to Congress in 1992 and was reelected in 1994, 1996, 1998, and 2000. In 2002 she barely lost reelection to Republican State Senator Ginny Brown-Waite. Thurman's 5th district had become 53% Republican and had lost its Democratic base in Gainesville.

In 2005 Thurman became Chair of the Florida Democratic Party. She will be heading the efforts in 2006 to give the governor's mansion to Democrats as well as reelect incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson.