Karen Giannini

Karen Giannini has been called the "improbable dragon slayer." In 2008 New Mexico Democrats said the seat was "unwinnable."  But Karen Giannini, a retired Airforce veteran and a divorced mother of three, decided to run for the New Mexico State House anyway.  Armed with her Emerge training, Karen felt passionately that the working men and women of her district deserved better representation than the incumbent Republican was providing.  With no help from the local party, Karen worked day and night at the grassroots level to win this race and become the first Democrat to represent her district in years.  She said for a newbie like herself, having the best political trainers and a powerful network made all the difference. 

Karen is a member of the education and the consumer and public affairs committees. She is also an advisor on the legislative education study committee and the tobacco revenue settlement oversight committee. She currently resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico and is running to maintain her seat in 2010.