Anesa Kajtazović

Anesa Kajtazovic (born August 30, 1986) is a Bosnian-American politician who was a member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing the 61st District from 2011 to 2015. Kajtazovic was an unsuccessful candidate for Iowa's 1st congressional district in an open seat primary in June 2014.

Anesa Kajtazović
Member of the Iowa House of Representatives
from the 61st district
In office
January 10, 2011 (2011-Jan-10) – January 11, 2015 (2015-Jan-11)
Preceded byKerry Burt
Succeeded byTimi Brown-Powers
Personal details
Born (1986-08-30) August 30, 1986
Bihać, SR Bosnia and Herzegovina, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partyDemocratic
ResidenceWaterloo, Iowa
Alma materUniversity of Northern Iowa (B.B.A./B.P.A.)
ProfessionMortgage Analyst

First elected at age 23, Kajtazovic is the youngest woman ever elected to the Iowa legislature, and the first Bosnian American elected to any public office in the United States.

Biography

Kajtazovic was born in Bihać to Bosnian parents from Velika Kladuša[1] and relocated to the United States in 1997[2] as a refugee of the Bosnian War.[3][4]

Kajtazovic graduated from Waterloo West High School in 2004 and the University of Northern Iowa in 2007 with double major in three years, with Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a Bachelor of Public Administration degree.[5][6]

In the Iowa House of Representatives, she served on the Commerce, Appropriations, Veteran Affairs, Local Government, State Government, Ways and Means and the Economic Development Appropriations subcommittees.

Electoral history

Kajtazovic announced her candidacy in Iowa House of Representatives District 21 in March 2010 as a primary challenge to Kerry Burt, the Democratic incumbent. Burt withdrew from the race in the face of criminal charges, but remained on the ballot as the official withdrawal deadline had passed. Kajtazovic won the June primary with 91% of the vote.

In the November 2010 general election, Kajtazovic won with 59%, defeating Republican opponent John Rooff, a former Waterloo mayor.[7]

In 2012, Kajtazovic was re-elected to the Iowa House of Representatives District 61 (renumbered in redistricting) defeating Republican Lyn Tackett.

2012 Iowa House of Representatives election in District 61
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Anesa Kajtazović 9,602 70.2
Republican Lyn Tackett 4,063 29.7
n/a Write-ins 15 0.1
Total votes 13,680 100.0
Democratic hold

In August 2013, at the age of 26, Kajtazovic announced her candidacy for Iowa's 1st Congressional District. The seat was open as incumbent Democrat Bruce Braley was instead running for an open U.S. Senate seat. Kajtazovic finished fourth of five Democratic candidates in the June 2014 Democratic primary, but carried her home county, Black Hawk.

Democratic primary results[8]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pat Murphy 10,189 36.7
Democratic Monica Vernon 6,559 23.6
Democratic Swati Dandekar 5,076 18.3
Democratic Anesa Kajtazović 4,067 14.7
Democratic Dave O'Brien 1,846 6.7
Democratic Write-ins 18 0.0
Total votes 27,755 100.0

Because of the congressional campaign, Kajtazovic did not seek re-election to the Iowa House, and was replaced by Democrat Timi Brown-Powers in January 2015.

References
  1. "Bosanka Anesa Kajtazović postala gradonačelnica u SAD!". Eksluziva. July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  2. "I came to America with my family seventeen years ago today". Facebook. February 12, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  3. "Upoznajte Bosanku koja je POMELA političku scenu Iowe! A tek joj je 26!". Dnevnik. July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  4. "Bosanka Anesa Kajtazović postala gradonačelnica u Americi". BanjaLuka. July 9, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  5. "Pobijedila iskusnog političara - Anesa Kajtazović postala gradonačelnica u SAD". buka. July 8, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  6. "Lijepa Bosanka Anesa Kajtazović postala gradonačelnica u Americi!". Tip. July 8, 2013. Retrieved August 15, 2013.
  7. sos.state.ia.us Archived 2006-12-14 at the Wayback Machine
  8. "OFFICIAL RESULTS June 3, 2014 Primary Election". Iowa Secretary of State. Archived from the original on June 8, 2014. Retrieved July 23, 2014.
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