| Kay Papen | |
| Office: | President pro tempore of the New Mexico Senate |
| Term Start: | January 15, 2013 |
| Term End: | January 19, 2021 |
| Predecessor: | Timothy Jennings |
| Successor: | Mimi Stewart |
| State Senate1: | New Mexico |
| District1: | 38th |
| Term Start1: | January 2001 |
| Term End1: | January 19, 2021 |
| Predecessor1: | Fernando Macias |
| Successor1: | Carrie Hamblen |
| Birth Date: | 19 March 1932 |
| Birth Place: | El Paso, Texas, U.S. |
| Party: | Democratic |
| Education: | New Mexico State University (BA) |
Mary Kuper "Kay" Papen (born March 19, 1932)[1] [2] is an American politician who served as a member of the New Mexico Senate from January 2001 to January 2021.[3] [4] [5]
Papen has faced criticism for blocking legislation that would allow voters to consider an amendment that would fund early childhood programs using 1% more yearly from the state's $18 million Land Grant Permanent Fund.
From 2013 to 2021, Papen also served as president pro tempore of the New Mexico Senate and has led a coalition of Republicans and conservative Democrats who hold leadership positions in the state Senate, despite the body's 26–16 Democratic majority.
In the 2020 election, Papen faced a primary challenge from Carrie Hamblen, then president of the Las Cruces Green Chamber of Commerce. In the June 2, 2020 Democratic primary, Papen was defeated by Hamblen.[6]