Texas congressman and ex-Houston mayor Sylvester Turner has died. He was 70 years old.
Turner, who previously was diagnosed with bone cancer, reportedly suffered a medical emergency following President Donald Trump’s address to Congress on Tuesday night.
Turner, a Democrat representing the Lone Star State’s 18th congressional district, was elected in Nov. 2024, replacing Sheila Jackson — who died of pancreatic cancer last July. He had taken the oath of office January 3.
“The House Democratic Caucus family is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner. Though he was newly elected to the Congress, Rep. Turner had a long and distinguished career in public service and spent decades fighting for the people of Houston,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, the House minority leader, said.
“Like those before him, Rep. Turner was a fighter until the end — he was present yesterday evening to ensure that the voice of one of his constituents, who relies on Medicaid, was heard,” Jeffries said. “In what would be his final message to his beloved constituents last night he reminded us ‘don’t mess with Medicaid.’”
Prior to his stint in Washington, Turner was mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024 and a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1989 to 2016. He attended the University of Houston and Harvard Law School.
“A remarkable public servant who impacted millions of people,” current Houston Mayor John Whitmire said Wednesday. “He rose from poverty but never forgot where he came from. It is a terrible loss for the city and a personal loss for me. I ask Houstonians to celebrate his life.”
Flags at Houston city hall and other municipal buildings were lowered to half staff to memorialize Turner.
Turner was born in Houston’s Acres Homes neighborhood and maintained a residence there until his death.