Jonathan Karlen was elected to serve House District 96 in 2022 and began his first term in 2023. During the 2023 Legislative Session, he served on four committees and passed four bills. He is also a Co-Chair for the Montana Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (MDLCC) and serves on the Economic Affairs Interim Committee and Environmental Quality Council.

Jonathan works as a research associate at the University of Montana's Boone & Crockett Wildlife Conservation Program and as an instructor with the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program. He has previously served as a Max Baucus Leader in the U.S. Senate and a Demmer Scholar with the Legislative Affairs Office of the U.S. Forest Service. Additionally, he has been involved with the Western Governors' Association Leadership Institute.

Jonathan attended the University of Montana, where he earned a bachelor's degree in wildlife biology with a minor in climate change studies and a master's degree in public administration. He resides in the Missoula community.