U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, a freshman Democrat representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District, is useless at 70, a number of reviews affirm. He was elected within the November 2024 election to fill the seat left vacant after the passing of former Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died of pancreatic most cancers.
Turner’s sudden dying comes after he attended President Donald Trump’s joint deal with to Congress on Tuesday night time. Earlier within the day, theGrio noticed Turner at a Congressional Black Caucus press occasion on Capitol Hill.
Based on Houston Mayor John Whitmire, Congressman Turner–who served as mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024–was taken to a hospital in Washington, D.C, the place he was later pronounced useless.
“A exceptional public servant who impacted thousands and thousands of individuals,” Whitmire stated, in accordance with Khou 11. “He rose from poverty however by no means forgot the place he got here from. It’s a horrible loss for town and a private loss for me. I ask Houstonians to have a good time his life.”
In 2022, Turner revealed that he was identified with bone most cancers and obtained radiation remedy. On the time, he stated he was “cancer-free.”
Tributes to Turner got here pouring in from fellow Democrats following the information of his dying.
“We’ve misplaced one other political large,” stated Texas Congresswoman Crockett. “By no means did I think about that we might have a chance to serve collectively as our service on the state degree didn’t overlap, however I’m grateful for the two months that we did have collectively within the Folks’s Home! Relaxation simple, my expensive pal.”
“I’m saddened to listen to of the passing of my colleague, Congressman Sylvester Turner. He leaves behind a unprecedented legacy of service as Mayor of Houston and the Consultant for Texas’ 18th Congressional District. Could he Relaxation in Peace,” stated U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., on X.
“I’m so heartbroken to study concerning the passing of my expensive pal Congressman and former Mayor @SylvesterTurner!” wrote Jaime Harrison, former chairman of the Democratic Nationwide Committee, on X. Harrison continued, “We turned buddies through the DNC Conference Web site choice course of in 2018. A visionary chief and advocate… I’ll miss my pal and he will probably be missed by so many in his beloved Houston, TX. My heartfelt condolences to his household and buddies. Could he Relaxation in Peace!”
Hours earlier than his dying, Congressman Turner posted a video on social media asserting his visitor to Trump’s Tuesday night time deal with. The visitor, Angela Hernandez, joined Turner to advocate for Medicaid funding, which is at the moment beneath menace of seeing cuts beneath a Republican price range proposal handed within the U.S. Home of Representatives.
“Don’t mess with Medicaid,” stated Turner. He wrote, “President Trump and Elon Musk’s push to intestine Medicaid is nothing wanting a betrayal of probably the most weak amongst us. They’re enjoying politics with youngsters’s lives, and I can’t stand for it.”
A particular election is anticipated to be held to discover a substitute for Turner’s seat and will occur as quickly as Could 2025.
