Karen R. Toles
Member of the Maryland House of Delegates
from the 25th district
Assumed office
January 12, 2022
Serving with Kent Roberson and Denise Roberts
Appointed byLarry Hogan
Preceded byDereck E. Davis
Prince George's County Council District 7
In office
December 6, 2010 – December 3, 2018
Preceded byCamille Exum
Succeeded byRodney Colvin Streeter
Personal details
BornPrince George's County, Maryland, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Residence(s)Suitland, Maryland, U.S.
Alma materUniversity of Maryland, College Park (B.S.)
University of Baltimore Law School (J.D.)

Karen Renee Toles is an American Democratic politician from Maryland. Following the resignation of State Delegate Dereck E. Davis to serve as the Treasurer of Maryland, Governor Larry Hogan appointed her to serve the remainder of his term.[1] Since 2022, she has served in the Maryland House of Delegates, representing district 25, based in Prince George's County.[2]

Early life

Toles was born in Prince George's County, Maryland and attended Forestville High School in Forestville, Maryland. She graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2000, earning a B.S. degree in public health. She has also earned a J.D. degree from the University of Baltimore Law School.[2]

Career

Toles has worked as a political and legislative consultant on various organizations, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) labor unions,[2] and for Prince George's County State's Attorney Aisha N. Braveboy.[1] She has also operated her own policy consulting business, Paramount Policy Partners, since 2019.[1]

Toles entered politics in 2008, working as a regional field coordinator for the Democratic National Committee until 2010.[2] She was elected to represent District 7 of the Prince George's County Council in 2010, a position she held until 2018.[1]

In 2012, Toles was charged with reckless driving after traveling in a county-owned vehicle at a speed of 105 miles per hour on the Capital Beltway.[3] Toles apologized for the incident, saying that she would voluntarily enroll in a driver improvement class and discontinue her use of county-owned vehicles.[4] Anne Arundel District Court Judge Megan Johnson gave Toles probation before judgment in relation to the charge.[5]

In January 2022, the Prince George's Democratic Central Committee unanimously voted to elect Toles to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates, filling a vacancy left by the resignation of former delegate Dereck E. Davis.[6] Governor Larry Hogan officially appointed her to the House of Delegates on January 11, 2022, and she was sworn in the next day.[1]

In the legislature

Toles was sworn into the Maryland House of Delegates on January 12, 2022.[2] She was elected to a full term in the 2022 general election.[7]

Other memberships

Electoral history

Prince George's County Council District 7 Democratic Primary Election, 2010[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karen Toles 3,238 41
Democratic Angela Childs 1,720 22
Democratic Eugene W. Grant 1,130 14
Democratic Darrell A. Miller 921 12
Democratic Natasha Shamone-Gilmore 549 7
Democratic Charles H. Thomas, III 333 4
Prince George's County Council District 7 General Election, 2010[9]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karen Toles 19,477 100
Other/Write-in Other/Write-in 42 0
Prince George's County Council District 7 Democratic Primary Election, 2014[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karen Toles 5,273 68
Democratic Bruce Branch 1,525 20
Democratic Kito James 757 10
Democratic G. Falls 191 3
Prince George's County Council District 7 General Election, 2014[11]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Karen Toles 17,912 99
Other/Write-in Other/Write-in 108 1
Prince George's County Council At Large Democratic Primary Election, 2018[12]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mel Franklin 43,270 21
Democratic Calvin Hawkins 39,182 19
Democratic Karen Toles 36,463 17
Democratic Juanita Culbreath-Miller 31,010 15
Democratic Gerron Levi 25,665 12
Democratic Julian Lopez 15,717 8
Democratic Melvin Bernard Johnson 9,790 5
Democratic Jonathan White 4,802 2
Democratic Reginald J. Tyer 4,366 2

References and notes

  1. ^ a b c d e DePuyt, Bruce; Kurtz, Josh (January 11, 2022). "Political Notes: Novotny v. Hester, Neuman's Team, Dueling Endorsements in CD-4 and More". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Karen R. Toles, Maryland State Delegate". Maryland Manual On-Line. Maryland State Archives. February 1, 2022.
  3. ^ Zapotosky, Matt (March 6, 2012). "Karen Toles, Prince George's council member, charged with reckless driving". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  4. ^ Forzato, Jamie (March 3, 2012). "Prince George's County Councilwoman Apologizes for Driving 105 Miles Per Hour". Capital News Service. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  5. ^ Zapotosky, Matt (June 20, 2012). "Prince George's council member Karen Toles gets probation before judgment". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  6. ^ DePuyt, Bruce (January 5, 2022). "Prince George's Democrats Select Karen Toles for House Vacancy". Maryland Matters. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  7. ^ "Official 2022 Gubernatorial General Election Results for House of Delegates". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 7, 2022. Retrieved January 14, 2023.
  8. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Prince George's County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  9. ^ "Official 2010 Gubernatorial General Election results for Prince George's County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  10. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Prince George's County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 16, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  11. ^ "Official 2014 Gubernatorial General Election results for Prince George's County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. December 2, 2014. Retrieved January 12, 2022.
  12. ^ "Official 2018 Gubernatorial Primary Election results for Prince George's County". elections.maryland.gov. Maryland State Board of Elections. July 31, 2018. Retrieved January 12, 2022.


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