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Karen Handel is an American businesswoman and politician who is a member of the Republican Party. She held various positions including chair of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, Secretary of State of Georgia, and a term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Handel faced controversy during her tenure at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a charitable organisation, and resigned in 2012 after pushing to cut funding for breast cancer screening at Planned Parenthood. She later became the first Republican woman from Georgia elected to Congress in 2017 but lost her seat in 2018 and 2020 to Democrat Lucy McBath.
Wiki/Biography
Karen Christine Walker was born on Wednesday, 18 April 1962 (age 61 years; as of 2023) in Washington, D.C., U.S. Her zodiac sign is Aries. She grew up in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. She finished high school at Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro in May 1980. She then attended Prince George’s Community College in Largo, Maryland, and the University of Maryland, University College in Adelphi, Maryland. However, she did not complete a degree.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 3″
Hair Colour: Brown
Eye Colour: Amber
Family
Parents & Siblings
Not much is known about her family. She has a younger sister named Jennifer.
Husband & Children
In November 1992, she got married to Steve Handel who is the CEO of ‘Textgov LLC,’ an Electronic Media Advertising Representatives business.
Karen Handel with her husband
Religion
Karen Handel follows Christianity.
Career
After completing her formal education, she began working at Hallmark Cards. Later, she worked as the deputy chief of staff for Marilyn Quayle, the wife of Vice President Dan Quayle. In that role, she focused on promoting breast cancer awareness and research. Karen Handel became the chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners in 2003 and served until 2006. She later became Georgia Secretary of State from 2007 to 2010. During her tenure, she faced controversy for purging voter rolls, leading to allegations of voter suppression. Handel contested for Governor of Georgia in 2010 but lost in the Republican primary.
Karen Handel during a political campaign
Karen Handel then worked at Susan G. Komen for the Cure, where her stance on Planned Parenthood funding led to controversy and her resignation. Handel entered national politics, winning a special election for Georgia’s 6th congressional district in 2017 but losing the seat in 2018 to Democrat Lucy McBath. In subsequent elections, including 2020, she continued to face challenges but remained engaged in conservative causes. Handel aligns with Republican positions on various issues including opposing abortion, supporting gun rights, and favouring limited government intervention in climate change matters.
Post Politics Career
After she lost her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, Handel began working as the president and CEO of Carroll Tomorrow. It’s an organization that works on economic development for Carroll County, a place with about 120,000 people to the west of metro Atlanta.
Favourites
- Song: “A String of Pearls” by Glenn Miller
Facts/Trivia
- According to her, she is very religious and often travels for 2 hours to attend sermons at Rock Springs Church in Milner.
- She does not support LGBTQ individuals.
- Karen Handel is a big fan of the Indianapolis Colts, an American football team.