Democratic candidate Mauree Turner made history Tuesday in the race for Oklahoma’s House of Representatives for District 88, becoming the first Muslim lawmaker in the state and the first openly nonbinary state legislator in the U.S.
Turner received about 71% of the vote, defeating Republican candidate Kelly Barlean to represent House District 88, which covers a central area of Oklahoma City.
Turner uses she/they pronouns and is nonbinary, meaning their gender identity is not strictly male or female.
The 27-year-old and native Oklahoman has been a community organizer for most of their life and focused their campaigning on criminal justice reform, public education, expanding access to affordable health care and increasing the minimum wage.
Turner, who is also Black and queer, says representation became an important part of her campaign.
“It's about seeing yourself in those who make, interpret and enforce legislation that dictates our everyday lives,” Turner said. “It's about seeing that someone who makes those decisions about you cares about you, and that was what we did right here in House District 88.”
