Democratic frontrunner in Ohio special election has close ties to socialist Linda Sarsour
Dani Repass
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Nina Turner, the Democratic state senator running to fill Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marica Fudge’s empty House seat in Ohio, has a long history of close ties to socialist activist Linda Sarsour.
“Congrats sis!” Turner tweeted to Sarsour, following the release of her 2020 memoir, which discusses “what it’s like to be a feminist, Palestinian-American.”
Linda Sarsour is a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, a nonprofit organization with roots in the Socialist Party of America. While not a member herself, Turner is endorsed by the DSA, and they are actively working to elect her.
Turner formerly served as Sen. Bernie Sanders’ national spokesperson during his failed presidential bid and is now massively outraising her opponents in a bid to take over Fudge’s empty seat in Ohio’s 11th congressional district.
She has a long history tweeting praise of Sarsour and referring to her as “sis.” Sarsour has also praised Turner, calling her an “inspiration,” a “hero” and a “national treasure.”
“@NinaTurner is a national treasure. Every time I am in space with her, I wanna fight for justice even harder. She has taught so many of us about self worth. Taught us that we are fighting for what we deserve, not any favors. She inspires me every day,” Sarsour tweeted in 2019.
The pair have also headlined events together and even participated in Turner’s radio show together, with Turner referring to Sarsour as the “amazing Linda Sarsour” and an “activist extraordinaire.”
Sarsour has repeatedly come under fire for making inflammatory, anti-American, and anti-Semitic remarks.
“When we write the history of Islam in America, the Nation of #Islam is an integral part of that history,” Sarsour tweeted in 2012.
“Your next president wants to torture women and children. SMH. Disgusting. #GOPDebate,” Sarsour tweeted in 2016 in response to the Republican primary debate.
Sarsour was subsequently asked to step down from her co-chair position with the Women’s March board of directors following accusations of anti-Semitic rhetoric. Then-candidate Joe Biden condemned Sarsour after her appearance at a DNC event last year.
“Joe Biden has been a strong supporter of Israel and a vehement opponent of anti-Semitism his entire life, and he obviously condemns her[Sarsour’s] views and opposes BDS, as does the Democratic platform,” Biden spokesman Andrew Bates said. “She has no role in the Biden campaign whatsoever,” Bates added.
Nina Turner has not commented on Sarsour’s many controversies, nor has she commented on the controversy that hit her campaign this year: her political director, Mayor Trevor Elkins, is undergoing an embezzlement investigation.
Newbury Heights Mayor Trevor Elkins is being investigated by the Ohio Elections Commission after he admitted to using over $134,000 of his campaign funds for personal expenses between 2015 and 2019. Turner has not commented on the controversy despite railing against “dark money corruption” in several of her campaign speeches.