Karma Metzler Fitzgerald

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Karma Metzler Fitzgerald

Democratic Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 8, 2022

Education

Bachelor's

University of Idaho, 1992

Contact

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Karma Metzler Fitzgerald (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Idaho House of Representatives to represent District 26B. She lost in the general election on November 8, 2022.

Fitzgerald completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Karma Metzler Fitzgerald earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Idaho in 1992.

Elections

2022

See also: Idaho House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Idaho House of Representatives District 26B

Jack Nelsen defeated Karma Metzler Fitzgerald in the general election for Idaho House of Representatives District 26B on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jack Nelsen (R)	50.3	7,918
		Karma Metzler Fitzgerald (D)	49.7	7,834

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 15,752
= 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 Idaho House of Representatives District 26B

Karma Metzler Fitzgerald advanced from the Democratic primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 26B on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Karma Metzler Fitzgerald	100.0	2,122

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 2,122
= 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 Idaho House of Representatives District 26B

Jack Nelsen defeated Lyle Johnstone in the Republican primary for Idaho House of Representatives District 26B on May 17, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jack Nelsen	55.8	2,703
	Submit photo	Lyle Johnstone	44.2	2,144

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,847
= 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

To view Fitzgerald's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Karma Metzler Fitzgerald completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Fitzgerald's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Karma Metzler Fitzgerald is an advocate for farm and rural communities. As the chairman of the Lincoln County Youth Commission she was part of the leadership team that raised over $1 million to open a preschool and after school program at a new youth center in Richfield, Idaho. She also heads a new on-demand public transportation service in Lincoln County. Karma sits on the board for the Good Samaritan Free Clinic and leads the team developing The Ledge, a business incubator for kids and adults in Lincoln County. Karma’s passionate about using connection and collaboration to develop projects and programs that support Idaho’s rural families. Governor Brad Little recently named her to Serve Idaho, the commission on volunteerism and service. She was named a 2020 community hero by South Central District Health and received a 2021 Andrus Award for Volunteer of the Year.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Idahoans deserve access to quality and affordable childcare
• Idahoans deserve access to resources like public transportation and good broadband
• Idahoans deserve access to resources they need to thrive.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about affordable childcare. It is the key to so many opportunities Idaho families. It leads to equity in the workplace and equity in education. It's long been thought of as a family issue, but it's a community issue. It's just as important to our infrastructure as good roads and utilities.

I am also working on several projects to support small and mid-size farm families. I think there are opportunities for better access to processing facilities and marketing opportunities in this area and will pursue legislation to remove any barriers.

I've also become an advocate for better access to public transportation system in rural communities and will also be working toward bringing passenger rail back to Idaho.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I look up to the women in my family who came before me. They were incredibly strong and resilient and they did what they had to do to survive. I stand on their shoulders. I have the luxury of not having to merely survive so I want to do what I can to do thrive -- to live in my best light and then to lift and support others who are struggling. I've been given such a great life -- I want to give back to my community as much as I can to show my appreciation.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I remember President Reagan being shot. I was in junior high.

I remember people talking about Watergate, but I was a farm kid and thought it was an irrigation issue!

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working for my dad on the family farm. My parents were divorced so I split my time between time on the farm and time in the city with my mom. When I could work with my dad, I loved it. I could dig corrugates and drive the tractor. I loved being outside, in the dirt and with my dad. I worked with him when I could growing up. The last time I got to do it was just before he sold the farm, about 20 years ago and my older sister and I had to help pick up irrigation pipe. I loved every. single. second!

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Checks and balances

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

We have to overcome the supermajority and get to a place where both sides of the proverbial aisle are working together for the best Idaho.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

It is certainly helpful to understand the nuances of public policy.

If you are not a current legislator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Education, Agriculture, Transportation and Health and Welfare

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Yes. That's why I use the color purple in my campaign. It's where the "red" and the "blue" come together to get the work of the people done.

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.

See also

2022 Elections

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Candidate

Idaho House of Representatives District 26B

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Idaho House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Mike Moyle

Majority Leader:Jason Monks

Representatives

District 1A

Mark Sauter (R)

District 1B

Cornel Rasor (R)

District 2A

Heather Scott (R)

District 2B

Dale Hawkins (R)

District 3A

Vito Barbieri (R)

District 3B

Jordan Redman (R)

District 4A

Joe Alfieri (R)

District 4B

Elaine Price (R)

District 5A

Ron Mendive (R)

District 5B

Tony Wisniewski (R)

District 6A

Lori McCann (R)

District 6B

Brandon Mitchell (R)

District 7A

Kyle Harris (R)

District 7B

Charlie Shepherd (R)

District 8A

Rob Beiswenger (R)

District 8B

Faye Thompson (R)

District 9A

John Shirts (R)

District 9B

Judy Boyle (R)

District 10A

Mike Moyle (R)

District 10B

Bruce Skaug (R)

District 11A

Kent Marmon (R)

District 11B

Lucas Cayler (R)

District 12A

Jeff Cornilles (R)

District 12B

Jaron Crane (R)

District 13A

Brent Crane (R)

District 13B

Steve Tanner (R)

District 14A

Ted Hill (R)

District 14B

Josh Tanner (R)

District 15A

Steve Berch (D)

District 15B

Dori Healey (R)

District 16A

Soñia Galaviz (D)

District 16B

Annie Haws (D)

District 17A

John Gannon (D)

District 17B

Megan Egbert (D)

District 18A

Ilana Rubel (D)

District 18B

Brooke Green (D)

District 19A

Monica Church (D)

District 19B

Chris Mathias (D)

District 20A

Joe Palmer (R)

District 20B

James Holtzclaw (R)

District 21A

James Petzke (R)

District 21B

Jeff Ehlers (R)

District 22A

John Woude (R)

District 22B

Jason Monks (R)

District 23A

Chris Bruce (R)

District 23B

Shawn Dygert (R)

District 24A

Clint Hostetler (R)

District 24B

Steve Miller (R)

District 25A

Lance Clow (R)

District 25B

David Leavitt (R)

District 26A

Mike Pohanka (R)

District 26B

Jack Nelsen (R)

District 27A

Douglas Pickett (R)

District 27B

Clay Handy (R)

District 28A

Richard Cheatum (R)

District 28B

Dan Garner (R)

District 29A

Dustin Manwaring (R)

District 29B

Tanya Burgoyne (R)

District 30A

David Cannon (R)

District 30B

Ben Fuhriman (R)

District 31A

Jerald Raymond (R)

District 31B

Rod Furniss (R)

District 32A

Stephanie Mickelsen (R)

District 32B

Wendy Horman (R)

District 33A

Barbara Ehardt (R)

District 33B

Marco Erickson (R)

District 34A

Jon Weber (R)

District 34B

Britt Raybould (R)

District 35A

Mike Veile (R)

District 35B

Josh Wheeler (R)

Republican Party (61)

Democratic Party (9)