A manufacturer of automotive fluid circulation systems will establish its North American headquarters and a new manufacturing facility in Northwest Georgia, state officials announced. Teklas expects to invest $6.5 million in a vacant textile factory in Calhoun, Georgia, and create 120 new jobs. The Turkish company supplies components for heating and cooling systems — including metal, plastic, and rubber hoses and pipes — to automakers worldwide. The debut U.S. facility will join existing operations in Europe, China, and Mexico.

New Jersey businesswoman Derya Taşkın will be the first Turk representing the Democratic Party in the U.S. Electoral College, which will formally elect America's next president and vice president.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Taşkın said she has lived in the United States for about 25 years and has been actively working in various positions within the Democratic Party for a long time. The party board recognized her effort and selected her for the post, she said.

U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's transition to the White House has officially started, three weeks after he was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election.

President Donald Trump still refuses to concede and has vowed to continue to fight in court after General Services Administrator Emily Murphy gave the green light Monday for Biden to coordinate with federal agencies ahead of his Jan. 20 inauguration. Trump did, however, tweet that he was directing his team to cooperate on the transition.

Taşkın noted that Turkish people both from Republican and Democratic parties have taken significant steps in U.S. politics. She added that she does not think that Turkish-U.S. relations will deteriorate during Biden’s presidency.

“The two countries have a strong alliance and are NATO members. Biden knows how important NATO is. Biden had some statements in January, but it may be the result of some lobbies and our passivity. With our efforts, I believe we will change the ideas of Biden and his team to bring Turkish-American relations to a better level,” she said.

In an interview in January, Biden said that if he was elected president, his administration would pursue a policy of intervention against Turkey's elected government.

"What I think we should be doing is taking a very different approach to (President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan) now, making it clear that we support opposition leadership," said Biden.

He added, suggesting an ultimatum: "He (Erdoğan) has to pay a price. He has to pay a price for whether or not we're going to continue to sell certain weapons to him."

Biden’s statements were met with stark criticism from both ruling and opposition parties.

The Turkish American community witnessed the highest number of candidates running for public office in 2020 with 13 members of the community declaring their candidacy for federal, state, and local positions. California led in the most candidates with five followed by New Jersey with two. The following six states had one candidate each—Arizona, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Wisconsin.

The scoreboard for the year was four wins and nine losses. Here are the winners:

Aycha Sirvanci Sawa was elected on April 7 as Milwaukee’s City Comptroller (nonpartisan position) in Wisconsin. She is the first Turkish American elected as a chief financial officer for a major American city and the second woman elected to a city office in Milwaukee.

Tayfun Selen (R), was reelected on November 3 as a Freeholder (County Commissioner) of the Morris County Board of Chosen Freeholders (County Commissioners) in New Jersey.

Ben Bartlett, spouse of Yelda Mesbah Bartlett, was reelected on November 3 as Council member (nonpartisan position) of the Berkeley City Council in California.

Leah Ersoylu, spouse of Sarp Ersoylu, was elected on November 3 as Trustee (nonpartisan position) of the Newport Mesa United School District in Orange County, California.

Our thanks and appreciation to the following candidates who were courageous to run for public office and gave a good fight but did not win their elections. We applaud their efforts and strongly encourage them to consider running for public office again.

Aylin Acikalin (D), candidate for Judge of New Orleans First City Court in Louisiana.

John Alpay, ran for Councilmember (nonpartisan position) of the San Jan Capistrano City Council in California.

Onur Arugaslan, ran for Trustee (nonpartisan position) of the Mattawan Consolidated Schools Board of Education in Michigan.

Alp Basaran (D), candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, New Jersey 9th congressional district.

Zarina Kiziloglu, spouse of Kursad Kiziloglu, ran for Councilmember (nonpartisan position) of the Pleasanton City Council in California.

Ajlan Kurdoglu (D), candidate for the Arizona State Senate in Legislative District 17.

Sezin Palmer, ran for Board Member (nonpartisan position) of the Howard County Public Schools Board of Education District 4 in Maryland.

Ceylan Rowe (D), candidate for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, 12th Worcester District.

Cenk Uygur (D), candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, California 25th congressional district. 

* Derya Taskin is  selected for  State of NJ electoral college delegate from Democratic Party.

Reference: Ten Thousand Turks Campaign