Mauree Turner

Mauree Nivek Rajah Salima Turner (born 1992 or 1993) is an American politician and community organizer. A member of the Democratic Party, they have served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives since 2021. Turner is the first publicly non-binary U.S. state lawmaker and the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature.[2] They have previously served as a board member of the Council on American–Islamic Relations and led criminal justice reform initiatives with the American Civil Liberties Union.

Mauree Turner
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 88th district
Assumed office
January 2021
Preceded byJason Dunnington
Personal details
Born
Mauree Nivek Rajah Salima Turner

1992 or 1993 (age 28–29)[1]
Ardmore, Oklahoma, US
Political partyDemocratic
Websitewww.maureeturner.com

Early life

Turner is from Ardmore, Oklahoma.[3][4] They are Muslim, raised in an interfaith Baptist and Muslim household.[1] Their family received public assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,[5] and their father spent time in prison.[6] Turner graduated from Ardmore High School[3] and attended Oklahoma State University-Stillwater.[6]

Community organizing

Turner was a board member of the Council on American–Islamic Relations and led the "Campaigning for Smart Justice" criminal justice reform initiative of the American Civil Liberties Union.[7]

Oklahoma House of Representatives (2021—present)

2020 campaign

In the 2020 elections, Turner ran as a Democrat for the Oklahoma House of Representatives in district 88, held by incumbent Democrat Jason Dunnington. The district is located in Central Oklahoma City, primarily to the southeast of Interstate 44 and to the west of Interstate 235, containing the campus of Oklahoma City University.[8]

Turner's 2020 election campaign was focused on criminal justice reform.[5] Turner defeated Dunnington in the primary election and was backed by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar.[9] In the general election, they defeated Kelly Barlean, the Republican nominee, in a landslide, with approximately 71% of the vote.[10] During the general election, Turner was also endorsed by Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren.[11][12] Turner is the first publicly non-binary US state lawmaker and the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature.[5][11][13]

58th Oklahoma Legislature

Turner first served in the 58th Oklahoma Legislature. During the 58th legislative session, Turner has been an outspoken critic of multiple anti-LGBT bills proposed in the legislature.[2] Specifically, Turner has worked against bills that would seek to bar transgender athletes from competing in the sports of their gender.[2]

Turner has described the legislature as unwelcoming towards them. They have said, "sometimes, I’m like, 'This does feel like a direct attack on me… I think it is also folks who come into these bodies that aren't prepared to do the real work, but want to legislate from a place of bigotry, or a place of fear."[2] Of the fourteen bills Turner filed in the session, none were given a committee hearing by the Republican-led Oklahoma House of Representatives.[2]

Personal life

Turner is a queer and non-binary femme,[5] and uses they/them pronouns.[14]

Electoral history
Oklahoma House District 88, Democratic Primary Election, June 30, 2020[15]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mauree Turner 3,036 52.13
Democratic Jason Dunnington (incumbent) 2,788 47.87
Total votes 5,824 100.00
Oklahoma House District 88, General Election, November 3, 2020[16]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mauree Turner 9,610 71.36
Republican Kelly Barlean 3,856 28.64
Total votes 13,466 100.00
Democratic hold

References
  1. Forman, Carmen (November 4, 2020). "Oklahoma elects first Muslim, nonbinary state legislator". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  2. Forman, Carmen (April 16, 2021). "Rep. Mauree Turner is 'comfortable with being uncomfortable' in Oklahoma's Legislature". The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  3. Smith, Michael (June 1, 2020). "Floyd death prompts solidarity march in Ardmore". The Daily Ardmoreite. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  4. Turner, Mauree (June 22, 2020). "A Conversation With Oklahoma's Muslim Candidate". CAIR Oklahoma. Archived from the original on October 31, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  5. Duffy, Nick (November 4, 2020). "Mauree Turner becomes first non-binary state lawmaker in US history". PinkNews. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  6. Forman, Carmen (June 15, 2020). "House District 88: Democrat faces first primary challenge". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  7. Douglas, Blake (June 30, 2020). "Mauree Turner takes HD 88, Ajay Pittman retains HD 99". NonDoc. Archived from the original on October 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  8. "Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  9. Chamlee, Virginia (November 5, 2020). "Meet Mauree Turner, an Okla. Muslim Person Who Is First Non-Binary Legislator in U.S. History".
  10. Smith, Kelsie (November 5, 2020). "Mauree Turner is the first nonbinary and first Muslim Oklahoma state lawmaker". CNN. Archived from the original on November 25, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  11. Forman, Carmen (September 17, 2020). "Pete Buttigieg endorses OKC Democrat Mauree Turner". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on October 1, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  12. Formen, Carmen (October 8, 2020). "U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses OKC legislative candidate".
  13. "US election 2020: Sarah McBride to be first trans state senator". BBC News. November 4, 2020. Archived from the original on November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 4, 2020.
  14. Turner, Mauree. "Mauree Turner (They/Them) (@MaureeTurnerOK)". Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. "June 30, 2020 Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results". Secretary of State of Oklahoma. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  16. "November 03, 2020 Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results". Secretary of State of Oklahoma. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
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