Karla Bigham

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Karla Bigham was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in February of 2018 in a Special Election.  She serves on the Environment Finance Committee, Human Service Policy and Finance Reform Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee.  Her priorities are on clean drinking water, good paying jobs, strengthening our public schools, tax policy that works for all Minnesotans, and protecting the environment. Additionally, she fights to ensure transparency and bring the necessary change to the Capitol that will restore the public’s trust in government.

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Bigham served on the Washington County Board of Commissioners from 2015 until being elected to the Minnesota Senate.  Bigham served on numerous committees as a commissioner such as; County Transit Improvement Board, Transportation Advisory Board, Recycling and Energy Board, Library Board, and the Extension Committee.

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Bigham served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2007 until 2011. She was the Vice Chair of the Public Safety and Civil Justice Committee, and served on the Public Safety Finance, State Government Finance, and Veteran Affairs Committees.

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From 2005 until 2007, Karla served on the Cottage Grove City Council. She led the effort to secure funding and establish partnerships for the police department’s K9 Unit. Prior to serving on the city council, she chaired the Cottage Grove Public Safety, Health, and Welfare Commission. Additionally, Karla was chair of the Cottage Grove Charter Commission and was a member of the Cottage Grove Environmental Commission.

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Bigham is a life-long resident of Washington County.  Karla obtained a Master of Public Affairs Degree from the University of Minnesota. She received her Bachelor's Degree as a paralegal, with minors in sociology and political science from Winona State University. Karla is a graduate from Park High School in Cottage Grove. She is a member of All Saints Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove.  Senator Bigham and her husband, John, are residents of Cottage Grove, Minnesota.  They have two rescue dogs.