Karen Ruth Hurd (néeWilla; born 1958) is an Americannutritionist, writer, andRepublican politician fromClark County, Wisconsin. She is a member of theWisconsin State Assembly, representingWisconsin's 69th Assembly district since 2025; she previously represented the68th Assembly district during the2023–2024 term. She also previously served as a member of the village board ofFall Creek, Wisconsin.

Karen Hurd was born Karen Willa inTexas. Her parents divorced when she was a child, and she moved toMissouri, where she graduated fromKirkwood High School in 1976. She went on to attendTruman State University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in 1980. While attending school, she was involved in theReserve Officers' Training Corps and was commissioned asecond lieutenant in theUnited States Army at the time she graduated from college. She served four years in the Army, and was discharged with the rank ofcaptain in 1984. She received theArmy Commendation Medal for outstanding service.^[1]

For the next several years after leaving the Army, she was focused on her growing family and resided inSt. Louis, Missouri. In 1989, after her infant daughter was poisoned by a household pesticide (Organophosphate) she began studying alternative treatment options to help restore her daughter's health. She administered a nutrition plan, and the child recovered and grew to adulthood with no apparent ill effects.^[2]

The experience led her to pursue further education in nutrition and biology. She attended the American Academy of Nutrition (nowHuntington University of Health Sciences) and received a diploma of comprehensive nutrition in 1994, after which she established a nutrition practice,Karen R. Hurd Nutrition Practice LLC.^[2]

In the late 1990s, she moved toFall Creek, Wisconsin, with her family. She continued to pursue higher education, attending several courses at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and ultimately completed her master's degree inbiochemistry in 2017 from theUniversity of Saint Joseph(online).^[1]

She has been an outspoken advocate on nutrition issues, and has appeared on radio and speaking platforms to discuss her findings. She has also self-published three books on the subject and volumes of digital coursework.^[1]

She is currently pursuing amaster's in public health fromGeorge Washington University(also online). She has also recently worked as a substitute teacher in the Fall Creek School System.^[1]

In addition to her pursuits in nutrition and medicine, Hurd has been a playwright since 1997 and has produced more than 40 plays and musicals through her Scene & Hurd Productions LLC production company. She also wrote and produced the feature filmThe Lumber Baron (2019) about a family lumber business in early 20th century Wisconsin.^[3] She has also published a long-running historical fiction column in a Wisconsin newspaper.^[1]

Karen Hurd was elected to her first public office in 2021, when she joined the village board of trustees of Fall Creek.^[4]

The next year, incumbent Wisconsin state representativeJesse James announced he would run for Wisconsin State Senate, creating an open seat in the68th Assembly district.^[5] Three days later, Hurd announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination to succeed James.^[4] Ultimately two other candidates would enter the Republican contest, but Hurd prevailed with 57% of the vote in theprimary.^[6] She defeated Eau Claire County supervisor Nate Otto in the general election, receiving 61% of the vote.^[7]

Karen Willa was one of four children born to James L. Willa and his wife Betty (née Duncan). Though her parents divorced, they both ultimately ended up moving to western Wisconsin.^[8]

Karen Willa took the last name Hurd when she married Steven Hurd in 1978. She now resides alone in Fall Creek, Wisconsin, while Steven has been moved to the Heatherwood Assisted Living Facility in Eau Claire, Wisconsin[1][2][3]; they have five adult children and four grandchildren.^[1]

• Hurd, Karen (2007).And They Said It Wasn't Possible. Trafford Publishing.
• Hurd, Karen (2009).The Bean Queen's Cookbook. Trafford Publishing.
• Hurd, Karen (2015).Mr. Sugar Comes to Call. Scene & Hurd Publications.

• Campaign websiteArchived December 9, 2022, at theWayback Machine
• Business website
• Karen Hurd atIMDb
• Karen Hurd atBallotpedia
• Karen Hurd at Wisconsin Vote

• 1958 births
• Living people
• Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• Women state legislators in Wisconsin
• People from Kirkwood, Missouri
• People from Eau Claire County, Wisconsin
• People from Clark County, Wisconsin
• Truman State University alumni
• University of Saint Joseph (Connecticut) alumni
• 21st-century American women politicians
• 21st-century American dramatists and playwrights
• Screenwriters from Wisconsin
• American nutritionists
• United States Army officers
• 21st-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature

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