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Mauree Turner

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Mauree Nivek Rajah Salima Turner (born 1992 or 1993) is an American politician and community organizer. A member of the Democratic Party, they served as a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives from 2021 to 2024. Turner is the first publicly non-binary U.S. state lawmaker and the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature.

Mauree Turner
Turner smiling
Turner in 2020
Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives
from the 88th district
In office
January 2021 – November 20, 2024
Preceded byJason Dunnington
Succeeded byEllen Pogemiller
Personal details
Born
Mauree Nivek Rajah Salima Turner

1992 or 1993 (age 31–32)[1]
Ardmore, Oklahoma, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
EducationOklahoma State University
Websitewww.maureeturner.com Edit this at Wikidata

Raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma, in an interfaith Muslim and Baptist household, Turner graduated from Ardmore High School and Oklahoma State University. They 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.

Early life

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Turner is from Ardmore, Oklahoma and a graduate of Ardmore High School.[2] They are a Muslim, raised in an interfaith Baptist and Muslim household.[1] Their family received public assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and their father spent time in prison.[3][4] Turner later graduated from Oklahoma State University.[4]

Community organizing

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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.[5] In 2022, Turner joined the board of GLSEN, an LGBTQ+ students' rights organization.[6]

Oklahoma House of Representatives (2021–present)

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2020 campaign and first term

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In the 2020 elections, Turner ran as a Democrat for the Oklahoma House of Representatives in district 88, held by incumbent Democrat Jason Dunnington.[5] 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.[7] Turner's 2020 election campaign was focused on criminal justice reform, public education, and raising the minimum wage. Turner defeated Dunnington in the primary election and was backed by U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar. In the general election, they defeated Kelly Barlean, the Republican nominee, in a landslide, with approximately 71% of the vote.[8] During the general election, Turner was also endorsed by Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Senator Elizabeth Warren.[9][10] Turner is the first publicly non-binary US state lawmaker and the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature.[1]

Turner first served in the 58th Oklahoma Legislature. During the 58th legislative session, Turner was an outspoken critic of multiple anti-LGBT bills proposed in the legislature. Specifically, Turner worked against bills that would seek to bar transgender athletes from competing in the sports of their gender. 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." Of the fourteen bills Turner filed in the first session, none were given a committee hearing by the Republican-led Oklahoma House of Representatives.[11]

Re-election campaign and second term

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Turner was reelected in the 2022 elections to serve in the 59th Oklahoma Legislature.[12] In 2023, the American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma issued a statement criticizing the Oklahoma House of Representatives for tabling Turner's proposed amendments to the chamber's dress code rules that would have made the rules gender neutral.[13] On April 3, 2024, they announced they were retiring due to health concerns and would not seek a third term.[14]

House censure

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On February 28, 2023, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed H.B. 2177;[15] the bill would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender children.[16] During protests that day, a protester allegedly tossed water on Representative Bob Ed Culver Jr. and had a physical interaction[note 1] with a police officer.[18] After the altercation, the protester was locked in Turner's office; The Oklahoma Highway Patrol alleged Turner refused to unlock the office when they communicated with them through the door.[19] On March 7, the Republican-controlled Oklahoma House voted along party lines to censure Representative Turner.[16][20] They were also removed from their committee assignments until a written apology is sent to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Speaker Charles McCall.[19] Turner denied wrongdoing saying "I just provide my office as space of grace and love for all the folks in all communities that seek refuge from the hate in this building... Trans people don't feel safe here."[18] They also declined to apologize, stating "I think an apology for loving the people of Oklahoma is something that I cannot do."[16] Oklahoma House Democrats criticized the censure because no investigation was done before the censure, Turner had not committed a crime, and because multiple members of the Republican majority that were facing indictment had yet to be censured.[19][note 2] The New York Times compared Turner's censure to the Montana House of Representatives censure of Zooey Zephyr, another transgender state lawmaker, who was censured for giving a speech in the Montana chamber for saying supporters of an anti-transgender health bill had "blood on [their] hands" for voting for a bill "tantamount to torture."[25]

Personal life

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Turner is a queer and non-binary femme,[3] and uses they/them pronouns.[26] They were endorsed in their 2022 re-election campaign by the Oklahoma City chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America.[27]

Electoral history

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2020

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Oklahoma House District 88 Democratic Primary, 2020 [28]
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, 2020[29]
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

2022

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Oklahoma House District 88 Democratic primary, 2022[30]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mauree Turner (incumbent) 3,239 78.50%
Democratic Joe Lewis 887 21.50%
Oklahoma House District 88 election, 2022[31]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Mauree Turner (incumbent) 8,000 79.51%
Independent Jed Green 2,061 20.49%
Total votes 10,061 100.0
Democratic hold

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Reporting was divided on whether the protester hit the officer, or if the officer grabbed the protester, threw them to the ground, and attempted to pin them.[17]
  2. ^ In March 2023, three Republican legislators of the 59th Oklahoma Legislature were facing charges: Terry O'Donnell (conspiracy against the state), Ryan Martinez (driving while intoxicated), and Dean Davis (public intoxication).[21] Davis was later censured on March 27.[22] Charges against O'Donnell were dismissed in early April.[23] Martinez is, as of March 2023, currently under indictment and has not been censured.[24]

References

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  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ Smith, Michael (June 1, 2020). "Floyd death prompts solidarity march in Ardmore". The Ardmoreite. Archived from the original on October 19, 2020. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  3. ^ a b 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.
  4. ^ a b 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.
  5. ^ a b 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.
  6. ^ "GLSEN Welcomes New Leaders to National Board of Directors". GLSEN. June 13, 2022.
  7. ^ "Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  8. ^ Chamlee, Virginia (November 5, 2020). "Meet Mauree Turner, an Okla. Muslim Person Who Is First Non-Binary Legislator in U.S. History". People. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ Forman, Carmen (October 8, 2020). "U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren endorses OKC legislative candidate". The Oklahoman.
  11. ^ Forman, Carmen (April 16, 2021). "Rep. Mauree Turner is 'comfortable with being uncomfortable' in Oklahoma's Legislature". The Oklahoman. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  12. ^ "A 'rainbow wave' of candidates made history. What's next for them?". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
  13. ^ "ACLU of Oklahoma and Freedom Oklahoma Joint Statements on Oklahoma House of Representatives Refusal to Update House Rules". American Civil Liberties Union. January 6, 2021. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  14. ^ Kliewer, Addison (April 3, 2024). "State Rep. Mauree Turner will not run for re-election, citing health diagnoses". KOCO.
  15. ^ Osborne, Deon (March 7, 2023). "Okla. GOP censures, strips nonbinary lawmaker of committee posts". The Black Wall Street Times. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  16. ^ a b c Murphy, Sean (March 7, 2023). "Non-binary Oklahoma lawmaker censured after protest arrest". Associated Press. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  17. ^ Factora, James (March 9, 2023). "Nonbinary Oklahoma Legislator Mauree Turner Censured for Protecting Trans Protestor". Them. Retrieved March 12, 2023.
  18. ^ a b McNutt, Michael (March 7, 2023). "House Republicans censure Rep. Mauree Turner, Democrats call foul". NonDoc. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Forman, Carmen (March 7, 2023). "GOP-led Oklahoma House censures Democrat over actions after trans-rights protest altercation". Tulsa World. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  20. ^ "House Censures Member for Hiding Fugitive in Office". Oklahoma House of Representatives. Retrieved March 8, 2023.
  21. ^ "'Last night has become a story': Broken Arrow Rep. arrested for public intoxication". Fox 25. March 23, 2023.
  22. ^ Denwalt, Dale (March 27, 2023). "Oklahoma House censures representative who claimed police couldn't arrest him". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  23. ^ Savage, Tres (April 6, 2023). "Despite calling him 'guilty,' AG Gentner Drummond drops charges against Rep. Terry O'Donnell". NonDoc. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  24. ^ "Preliminary Hearing for State Rep. Postponed to June". KWTV-DT. March 29, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  25. ^ Robbins, Jim; Tumin, Remy; Fortin, Jacey (April 26, 2023). "Montana G.O.P. Bars Transgender Lawmaker From House Floor". The New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
  26. ^ Mauree Turner. "Mauree Turner (They/Them) (@MaureeTurnerOK)". Twitter. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  27. ^ @MaureeTurnerOK (June 28, 2022). "A lot of folks ask where to plug in, and I will always tell you to figure out what pulls at your heartstrings and start there. There are so many organizations to get involved with, if you're looking to get involved with the DSA drop a line!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  28. ^ "June 30, 2020 Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results". Secretary of State of Oklahoma. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  29. ^ "November 03, 2020 Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results". Secretary of State of Oklahoma. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  30. ^ "June 28 2022". Oklahoma State Election Board. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  31. ^ "November 08 official results". Oklahoma Election Board.
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