Biography

Karen Lorraine Jacqueline Speier (born May 14, 1950) is an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for California's 14th congressional district, serving in Congress from 2008 to 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, Speier represented much of the territory that her political mentor, Leo Ryan, represented. In 1978, while working as his aide, Speier survived five gunshot wounds when Ryan was assassinated during the Jonestown massacre. Speier was a member of the California State Senate, representing parts of San Francisco and San Mateo counties. On April 8, 2008, she won the special election for the vacated United States House of Representatives seat of the late Congressman Tom Lantos. In 2021, she announced that she would not seek reelection in the 2022 midterm elections.

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Filmography

View Late Night with Seth Meyers
Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

2014Series
5.2
View The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

2015Series
6.1
View The Colbert Report
The Colbert Report

The Colbert Report

2005Series
6.9
View Explained
Explained

Explained

2018Series
7.5
View At This Hour with Kate Bolduan
At This Hour with Kate Bolduan

At This Hour with Kate Bolduan

2014Series
5.0
View The Seventies
The Seventies

The Seventies

2015Series
7.4
View The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer
The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer

2005Series
3.0
View Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle
Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle

Jonestown: Terror in the Jungle

2018Series
6.8
View Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It

2021Film
7.5
View I Am Vanessa Guillen
I Am Vanessa Guillen

I Am Vanessa Guillen

2022Film
7.5
View Wolf
Wolf

Wolf

2014Series0
View I Am Evidence
I Am Evidence

I Am Evidence

2017Film
6.4