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Mauree Turner

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Mauree Turner
Turner smiling
Turner in 2020
Member of theOklahoma 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 30–31)[1]
Ardmore, Oklahoma,U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Websitewww.maureeturnerEdit this at Wikidata

Mauree Nivek Rajah Salima Turner(born 1992 or 1993) is an American politician andcommunity organizer.A member of theDemocratic Party,they have served as a member of theOklahoma House of Representativessince 2021. Turner is the first publiclynon-binaryU.S. state lawmakerand the first Muslim member of theOklahoma Legislature.

Raised inArdmore, Oklahoma,in an interfaithMuslimandBaptisthousehold, Turner graduated fromArdmore High SchoolandOklahoma State University.They previously served as a board member of theCouncil on American–Islamic Relationsand ledcriminal justice reforminitiatives with theAmerican Civil Liberties Union.

Early life

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Turner is fromArdmore, Oklahomaand a graduate ofArdmore High School.[2]They are aMuslim,raised in an interfaithBaptistand Muslim household.[1]Their family received public assistance from theSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,and their father spent time in prison.[3][4]Turner later graduated fromOklahoma State University.[4]

Community organizing

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Turner was a board member of theCouncil on American–Islamic Relationsand led the "Campaigning for Smart Justice"criminal justice reforminitiative of theAmerican Civil Liberties Union.[5]In 2022, Turner joined the board ofGLSEN,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 the2020 elections,Turner ran as aDemocratfor theOklahoma House of Representativesin district 88, held by incumbent DemocratJason Dunnington.[5]The district is located in CentralOklahoma City,primarily to the southeast ofInterstate 44and to the west ofInterstate 235,containing the campus ofOklahoma City University.[7]Turner's 2020 election campaign was focused oncriminal justice reform,public education,and raising theminimum wage.Turner defeated Dunnington in the primary election and was backed byU.S. RepresentativeIlhan Omar.In the general election, they defeated Kelly Barlean, theRepublicannominee, in a landslide, with approximately 71% of the vote.[8]During the general election, Turner was also endorsed by MayorPete Buttigiegand SenatorElizabeth Warren.[9][10]Turner is the first publiclynon-binaryUS state lawmakerand the first Muslim member of the Oklahoma Legislature.[1]

Turner first served in the58th Oklahoma Legislature.During the 58th legislative session, Turner was an outspoken critic of multipleanti-LGBTbills 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 theRepublican-ledOklahoma House of Representatives.[11]

Re-election campaign and second term

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Turner was reelected in the2022 electionsto serve in the59th Oklahoma Legislature.[12]In 2023, theAmerican Civil Liberties Unionof Oklahoma issued a statement criticizing theOklahoma House of Representativesfor tabling Turner's proposed amendments to the chamber's dress code rules that would have made the rulesgender 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 theOklahoma House of Representativespassed H.B. 2177;[15]the bill would bangender-affirming medical carefortransgenderchildren.[16]During protests that day, a protester allegedly tossed water on RepresentativeBob 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; TheOklahoma Highway Patrolalleged Turner refused to unlock the office when they communicated with them through the door.[19]On March 7, theRepublican-controlled Oklahoma House voted along party lines tocensureRepresentative Turner.[16][20]They were also removed from theircommitteeassignments until a written apology is sent to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and SpeakerCharles 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 HouseDemocratscriticized 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 Timescompared Turner's censure to theMontana House of Representativescensure ofZooey Zephyr,anothertransgenderstate 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-binaryfemme,[3]and usesthey/thempronouns.[26] They were endorsed in their 2022 re-election campaign by the Oklahoma City chapter of theDemocratic 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
Democratichold

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
Democratichold

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, threeRepublicanlegislators of the59th Oklahoma Legislaturewere facing charges:Terry O'Donnell(conspiracy against the state),Ryan Martinez(driving while intoxicated), andDean 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 underindictmentand has not been censured.[24]

References

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  1. ^abcForman, Carmen (November 4, 2020)."Oklahoma elects first Muslim, nonbinary state legislator".The Oklahoman.Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  2. ^Smith, Michael (June 1, 2020)."Floyd death prompts solidarity march in Ardmore".The Ardmoreite.Archivedfrom the original on October 19, 2020.RetrievedNovember 6,2020.
  3. ^abDuffy, Nick (November 4, 2020)."Mauree Turner becomes first non-binary state lawmaker in US history".PinkNews.Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  4. ^abForman, Carmen (June 15, 2020)."House District 88: Democrat faces first primary challenge".The Oklahoman.Archivedfrom the original on November 16, 2020.RetrievedNovember 11,2020.
  5. ^abDouglas, Blake (June 30, 2020)."Mauree Turner takes HD 88, Ajay Pittman retains HD 99".NonDoc.Archivedfrom the original on October 4, 2020.RetrievedNovember 4,2020.
  6. ^"GLSEN Welcomes New Leaders to National Board of Directors".GLSEN. June 13, 2022.
  7. ^"Oklahoma House of Representatives District 88".Ballotpedia.RetrievedNovember 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.RetrievedApril 30,2023.
  9. ^Forman, Carmen (September 17, 2020)."Pete Buttigieg endorses OKC Democrat Mauree Turner".The Oklahoman.Archivedfrom the original on October 1, 2020.RetrievedNovember 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.RetrievedApril 16,2021.
  12. ^"A 'rainbow wave' of candidates made history. What's next for them?".The Washington Post.RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedJanuary 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.RetrievedMarch 8,2023.
  16. ^abcMurphy, Sean (March 7, 2023)."Non-binary Oklahoma lawmaker censured after protest arrest".Associated Press.RetrievedMarch 8,2023.
  17. ^Factora, James (March 9, 2023)."Nonbinary Oklahoma Legislator Mauree Turner Censured for Protecting Trans Protestor".Them.RetrievedMarch 12,2023.
  18. ^abMcNutt, Michael (March 7, 2023)."House Republicans censure Rep. Mauree Turner, Democrats call foul".NonDoc.RetrievedMarch 8,2023.
  19. ^abcForman, Carmen (March 7, 2023)."GOP-led Oklahoma House censures Democrat over actions after trans-rights protest altercation".Tulsa World.RetrievedMarch 8,2023.
  20. ^"House Censures Member for Hiding Fugitive in Office".Oklahoma House of Representatives.RetrievedMarch 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.RetrievedMarch 28,2023.
  23. ^Savage, Tres (April 6, 2023)."Despite calling him 'guilty,' AG Gentner Drummond drops charges against Rep. Terry O'Donnell".NonDoc.RetrievedApril 30,2023.
  24. ^"Preliminary Hearing for State Rep. Postponed to June".KWTV-DT.March 29, 2023.RetrievedApril 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.RetrievedApril 30,2023.
  26. ^Mauree Turner."Mauree Turner (They/Them) (@MaureeTurnerOK)".Twitter.RetrievedMay 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) – viaTwitter.
  28. ^"June 30, 2020 Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results".Secretary of State of Oklahoma.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
  29. ^"November 03, 2020 Oklahoma State Election Board Official Results".Secretary of State of Oklahoma.RetrievedJanuary 15,2021.
  30. ^"June 28 2022".Oklahoma State Election Board.RetrievedJune 29,2022.
  31. ^"November 08 official results".Oklahoma Election Board.
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