Karen Lewis Young is a Democratic member of the Maryland Senate representing District 3 since January 2023. She is the first woman elected to represent western Maryland in the Senate and previously served in the Maryland House of Delegates from District 3A . Her career began as president pro tem on the Frederick Board of Aldermen. Notable achievements include passing equal pay legislation, a patient’s bill of rights, disability support laws, sepsis awareness measures, and superfund site disclosure requirements for homebuyers. She serves on the Budget and Taxation Committee, Education, Energy, and Environment Committee, and various commissions like the Governor's Commission to Study Mental and Behavioral Health and Maryland Commission on Caregiving. Young was a delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention pledged to Kamala Harris and has received awards such as Maryland’s Top 100 Women by The Daily Record and the MACo Legislative Recognition Award.

Education and Political Experience

Prior to politics, Young held executive roles in banking and marketing, including senior vice president and chief marketing officer at Farmers & Merchants National Bank, and vice president positions at Allfirst Bank and Claritas. Her political experience includes: Maryland Senate ; Maryland House of Delegates ; Frederick Board of Aldermen ; and leadership roles like Chairwoman of Washington Council of Governments . She has also participated in joint committees on pensions, federal relations, ending homelessness, and caucuses including Women Legislators of Maryland .