Karen Leeper Bennett is a Democratic former State Representative for Georgia House District 94, covering portions of DeKalb and Gwinnett counties, including Stone Mountain. A native of Richmond, Virginia, she moved to DeKalb County, Georgia, in 1985. First elected in 2012, she was reelected unopposed in 2022 and served until her retirement on January 1, 2026. Notable achievements include co-authoring House Bill 426, Georgia's historic hate crimes legislation in 2020, which addressed Georgia's status as one of the last states without such a law; championing health care initiatives; and holding leadership roles such as vice chairman of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators Region VI , state director for Women In Government, and positions within the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus. She served on key committees including Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Appropriations , Economic Development & Tourism, and Health and Regulated Industries, and was part of the DeKalb and Gwinnett House legislative delegations. In 2024, she pleaded guilty to federal charges of making false statements to obtain $13,940 in pandemic unemployment benefits in 2020 while employed, with sentencing scheduled for April 15, 2026.

Education and Political Experience

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy from Howard University; Master of Science in Exercise Physiology from Georgia State University; Master of Divinity from Candler School of Theology at Emory University; Doctor of Physical Therapy from Alabama State University.
• Political Experience: Elected to Georgia House District 94 in 2012; reelected through 2022; retired January 1, 2026; committee assignments and leadership roles as noted above; prior work included employment at Metro Therapy Providers, Inc., and a church.