Karen Reynolds (Tennessee)
Karen Reynolds (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Tennessee State Senate to represent District 22. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Reynolds completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Karen Reynolds was born in Saginaw, Michigan. Reynolds' career experience includes working as a city council member. She served in the U.S. Army from 1980 to 2001. Reynolds earned a bachelor's degree from Excelsior College in 2001, a bachelor's degree from Wayland Baptist University in 2001, and a graduate degree from East Carolina University in 2023.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Tennessee State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Tennessee State Senate District 22
Incumbent Bill Powers defeated Karen Reynolds in the general election for Tennessee State Senate District 22 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Bill Powers (R) | 61.0 | 45,571 |
 | Karen Reynolds (D)  | 39.0 | 29,180 | |
| Total votes: 74,751 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 22
Karen Reynolds advanced from the Democratic primary for Tennessee State Senate District 22 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Karen Reynolds | 100.0 | 3,798 |
| Total votes: 3,798 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Republican primary election
Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 22
Incumbent Bill Powers advanced from the Republican primary for Tennessee State Senate District 22 on August 1, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Bill Powers | 100.0 | 7,718 |
| Total votes: 7,718 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Reynolds in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Video for Ballotpedia
| Video submitted to Ballotpedia Released January 11, 2024 |
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Karen Reynolds completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Reynolds' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Currently, I represent Ward 9 on the Clarksville City Council. My tenure has been marked by engagement with residents, fostering open communication through monthly newsletters and town halls, ensuring their voices are heard. I chair the Montgomery County Health Council and actively participate in numerous committees, including the Women’s Shelter, Tree Board, Sustainability Committee, and more.
My career spans from serving as a Veteran Service Representative to working as a Project Manager in Healthcare Informatics at Blanchfield Army Hospital. My experiences have shaped my commitment to transparency, accountability, and community-driven solutions.
I am committed to building a future for Tennessee marked by equity and equality, advocating for affordable housing, healthcare, education, and green energy. As a State Senator, I pledge to research issues diligently, communicate openly, and work for the people.- Proven Problem Solver and Community Advocate: As a dedicated City Councilwoman, Karen Reynolds has a reputation for digging into details, holding people accountable, and pushing back against business as usual. She has created and implemented impactful local policies, such as the Healthy Yards program and improvements to traffic and mental health planning. Her record shows a commitment to enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
- Bipartisan Collaborator with Strong Principles: Karen Reynolds is dedicated to bipartisan collaboration while standing firm against extremism. She aims to make state government work for the middle class by addressing affordability issues, expanding Medicaid, and creating a medical home for children in foster care. With a background in healthcare, she supported initiatives like the county’s first mental health court and HIV treatment programs. Karen collaborates with community members to provide free education, HIV/STD testing, and contraceptive services through the REACH clinic. She is a staunch advocate for public education and women’s reproductive freedom, and supports ending Tennessee’s grocery tax.
- Champion for Healthcare and Education: Karen Reynolds leverages her extensive healthcare background to address critical community needs. She has chaired the Montgomery County Health Care Council and supported initiatives like the county’s first mental health court and HIV treatment programs. Karen works with Ruth’s Army to provide free education, HIV/STD testing, and contraceptive services through the REACH clinic. As an advocate for public education, she opposes vouchers, supports teachers, and fights for well-funded schools. Karen is dedicated to improving the lives of Tennessee families by ensuring access to quality healthcare and education.
Karen Reynolds is passionate about improving infrastructure, healthcare, and affordability. She advocates for robust infrastructure to enhance community connectivity, safety, and walkability. In healthcare, she focuses on comprehensive access, including women’s health services and reproductive freedom, as well as mental health initiatives. Karen is also committed to affordability, pushing for attainable housing, fair wages, and ending Tennessee's high grocery tax. Her goal is to create a sustainable and inclusive future for all Tennessee families.
Integrity is paramount. An official must be honest and adhere to ethical standards, always prioritizing the public good over personal gain. Accountability means being answerable to the people, ensuring that actions taken are in line with the promises made during the campaign.
Communication is crucial. Engaging with the community through regular updates and being accessible to address concerns helps bridge the gap between officials and constituents. This approach not only strengthens democracy but also ensures that the needs and voices of the people are heard and considered in decision-making processes.
Moreover, an elected official should be forward-thinking and proactive in addressing future challenges and opportunities. This includes being a lifelong learner, continuously seeking knowledge and understanding to better serve their community. My background as a lifelong learner, military service member, and advocate for marginalized communities has equipped me with a diverse perspective and a commitment to justice and equality.
Moreover, my dedication to transparency and community engagement is reflected in my monthly newsletters, which provide constituents with updates on my work and opportunities for input. I prioritize collaboration and value the input of experts and community members in decision-making processes. My advocacy for reproductive freedom, walkability, and equitable access to healthcare and education underscores my commitment to social justice and equity.
Rich Characterization: Morrison's masterful portrayal of complex characters like Milkman Dead and Pilate, each with their own struggles and aspirations, drew me deeply into their world.
Exploration of Identity: The novel delves into themes of self-discovery and cultural identity, prompting introspection and sparking conversations about race, heritage, and belonging.
Powerful Narrative: Morrison's lyrical prose and evocative storytelling captivated me from the first page, weaving a rich tapestry of history, myth, and personal revelation.
Spiritual and Mythical Elements: Infused with elements of folklore and myth, the novel explores profound truths about the human experience, inviting readers to ponder deeper meanings.
Inspired by this story, I initiated efforts to establish a medical home model specifically tailored to meet the healthcare needs of foster care children in our community. Collaborating with a dedicated team of healthcare providers and leveraging the resources of the Montgomery County Health Council, we worked tirelessly to ensure that no child in foster care would be denied essential medical care again.
Currently, Tennessee lacks a statewide citizen initiative process, but successful local initiatives in cities like Chattanooga, Jackson, and Knoxville have demonstrated the potential for direct citizen engagement in policymaking. By expanding and strengthening the ballot initiative process statewide, we can ensure that the priorities and concerns of all Tennesseans are heard and addressed.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Tennessee State Senate District 22 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 26, 2024
