I am thrilled to announce that I hired Karen Doory last month to serve as Campaign Director as we round the last bend into the homestretch of the campaign. I’ve known Karen for years, and was extremely pleased that she was in a position to undertake this commitment right now.
Below is a short press release sharing this announcement, so I won’t repeat what is there. But I will note that I couldn’t be more confident about the impact she will have on our efforts to get our message out to Frederick County voters over the coming months.
I hope and expect that many of you will get a chance to speak with or meet her in the days ahead.
Democrat Kai Hagen Announces Campaign Team and Website Launch
County wide field operation expanding in coming weeks

Frederick, MD (March 3, 2022) – Today, Frederick County Council member Kai Hagen announced that Karen Doory joined his campaign team last month as a Senior Advisor and Campaign Director, leading his campaign for County Executive.
The campaign has launched a new website to share Kai’s record of public service and his vision for Frederick County with voters.
Karen Doory served as the Deputy Campaign Manager to Senator Barbara Mikulski in 2010 and then was the longtime Development Director for Maryland League of Conservation Voters.
In 2020 she started her Baltimore-based consulting practice, working with candidates and non-profit clients across the country. Karen will be working with Kai’s team, including fundraising consultant Megan Chambers of Sky Blue Pink, and Jeannie Carlson of Blue Nation Strategies will run the robust mail and media program. The campaign will be expanding its county-wide voter contact operation in the coming weeks..
Councilman Kai Hagen is one of three Democrats seeking the nomination in the race to replace two-term Frederick County Executive Jan Gardner. The winner of the Democratic primary on June 28th will face off against Republican Senator Michael Hough, who is giving up his seat in the state Legislature to take on this race in a county that has trended purple and where Democrats have a new and growing voter registration advantage.
“Councilman Hagen is the best candidate to win the general election in November and has established himself as a frontrunner in the Democratic Primary. His progressive values, record of service and commitment to preserving and improving the quality of life for Frederick County residents are unmatched. We are in a strong position to win this race and look forward to taking on Michael Hough in the fall,” said Campaign Director Karen Doory.
About Kai Hagen
Kai Hagen’s life-long connection to, and commitment to, Frederick County was established as a child, where he developed his love of nature and open space exploring the Catoctin Mountains around his grandparents farm. He has been an active member of the community in Frederick County since he settled here with his wife, Kirsten, three decades ago to raise their family in an area where he already had deep roots. Today, he works tirelessly in the community to ensure that the opportunity and wonder that Frederick County offered for him as a child can be sustained so every resident of Frederick County can share in its benefits, today and into the future.