Karen Whitsett
Karen Whitsett is an American politician serving as a member of the Michigan House of Representatives since 2019, currently representing the 4th district. A member of the Democratic Party, Whitsett is often considered one of the more conservative Democrats in the House. In January 2025, Whitsett announced that she would not attend House Democrat caucus meetings. She was an unsuccessful candidate for Detroit City Council in 2025.
Early life
Whitsett was born on November 8, 1967 in Detroit, Michigan.Career
Elections
2018
On November 6, 2018, Whitsett won the election and became a Democratic member of the Michigan House of Representatives for District 9. Whitsett defeated James Stephens with 95.1% of the votes.2020
Whitsett won her August 2020 primary, beating out Roslyn Ogburn, a fourth-generation Detroiter and mother of five. She then won the general election.2022
On November 8, 2022, Whitsett was elected with 87% of the vote to the 4th state House district, which had changed since previous elections with redistricting.2024
Whitsett was reelected without a primary or general election challenger in 2024.2025
Whitsett ran for Detroit City Council District 7 in the 2025 election. She narrowly finished second in the top-two primary, behind Denzel McCampbell, and lost to McCampbell in the general election.Controversies
COVID-19
Whitsett reported she was diagnosed with COVID-19 on April 6, 2020. At the same time, Whitsett credited President Donald Trump and his personal support of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin treatments with saving her life, stating, "If President Trump had not talked about this, it would not be something that's accessible for anyone to be able to get that right now, it would not even be possible."In May 2020, Whitsett announced she would sue Governor of Michigan Gretchen Whitmer over a censure pertaining to COVID-19, alleging that the Governor and the 13th Congressional District Democratic Party Organization were attempting to deprive her of her right to engage in protected speech after she publicly supported President Trump. In June 2020, Whitsett dropped the federal lawsuit.