Karen Ortiz

Karen Ortiz is a candidate for U.S. Representative in New York's 12th congressional district in the 2026 election cycle. She is listed by the Federal Election Commission as an Independent candidate for the U.S. House in NY-12. As of October 17, 2026, Karen Ortiz's ballot status is general nominee. Her campaign reported total receipts of $46,268, total disbursements of $22,799, and cash on hand of $23,469 for the 2026 election cycle. Karen Ortiz served as an administrative judge at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's New York District Office from 2018 to 2025. She previously worked as a legal director for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and has been a guest lecturer at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Karen Ortiz was born to parents who moved from Puerto Rico to the U.S. mainland in the 1950s. She grew up in Garden City, New York, and participated in mock trial during high school, which inspired her to pursue a legal career.

Summary compiled from cited public records. Sources: Official candidate filing records; Federal Election Commission; Official election records; Federal Election Commission (fec.gov/data/candidate/H6NY12297/); en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_Ortiz.