The National Coalition of Turkish American Women Political Action Committee Honor These Turkish American Women for Their Public Spirit and Courage to Run for Elected Office

*Elected
1976 – *Sel Erder Yackley is believed to be the first Turkish American elected to public office. She was elected to the Elementary School Board in Ottawa, Illinois, in 1976 and served until 1987. Later, she served in an elected position on the Illinois Valley Community College Board of Directors from 1987 to 1997.

2005 – *Esin Busche (Republican) was elected as a Naperville Township Trustee in DuPage County, Illinois, in 2005 and was reelected several times.

2012 – Yelda Bartlett, Nonpartisan candidate for the Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District, Ward 1 (California) / General Election.

2014 – Duysevi (Sevi) Miyar, Nonpartisan candidate for Miami-Dade County Public Schools, District 4 (Florida) / General Election.

2016 – Duysevi (Sevi) Miyar, Democratic candidate for the Florida House of Representatives, District 111 / General Election.

2017 – Aylin Acikalin (Maklansky), Democratic candidate for New Orleans City Council, District A (Louisiana) / Primary Election.

2020 – *Aycha Sawa (Democrat) was elected City Comptroller of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a nonpartisan position, in 2020. She is the first Turkish American to become a Chief Financial Officer for a major American city and the second woman elected as a city official in Milwaukee.

2020 – Aylin Acikalin, Democratic candidate for First City Court Judge in New Orleans (Louisiana) / Special Election.

2020 – Ceylan Rowe, Democratic candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 12th/Worcester District / Primary Election.

2020 – Zarina Kiziloglu, Nonpartisan candidate for Pleasanton City Council (California) / General Election.

2020 – Sezin Palmer, Nonpartisan candidate for the Howard County Public Schools Board of Education, District 4 (Maryland) / General Election.

2021 – Helen Bukulmez, Democratic candidate for the Kentucky State Senate, 22nd District / General Election (Won the Democratic Primary).

2023 – Tumay Deniz Harding, Republican candidate for the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, Ashburn District (Virginia) / General Election.

2024 – Zeyna Pruzhanovsky, Nonpartisan candidate for the Chandler Unified School District-School-At-Large (Arizona) / General Election.

2024 – Derya Taskin, Democratic Candidate for Passaic County Commissioner (New Jersey) / Primary Election.

2025 – Tumay Deniz Harding, Republican candidate for Virginia State Senate,32nd District / Special Election (Won the Republican Primary).
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The National Coalition of Turkish American Women Political Action Committee | NC-TAW PAC
Officers: Tuba Firincioglu-Apadyin, President and Treasurer
Hulya Erol-Garvett and Tulay Spicker, Vice Presidents
www.nationalcoalitiontawpac.org