High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Karen Carter Peterson (born November 1, 1969) is an African American Democratic member of the Louisiana State Senate, having represented the 5th District since 2010. She is also the current Chairwoman of the Louisiana Democratic Party. Peterson is the first female, and second African-American, to serve as chair of Louisiana`s Democratic Party. She previously served from 1999 to 2010 as the state representative from District 93. Peterson was elected by her colleagues to the position of Louisiana State House Speaker Pro Tempore from 2008 to 2010.