Texas Democratic freshman Rep. Sylvester Turner, who spent nearly three decades as a state lawmaker and eight years as Houston mayor, died on Wednesday just two months into his first term in Congress. Turner’s family said in a statement that he had been taken to a hospital Tuesday after attending President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress and later released. "On Wednesday, March 5, at approximately 5:45 a.m., he died at his home from enduring health complications,” the statement read. “Congressman Turner was the consummate public servant. But to us, he was our beloved father, grandfather, sibling and relative.” In 2022, Turner revealed that he had been treated for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer, and told The Texas Tribune and KHOU that he had been declared cancer-free. Turner, 70, was elected in November to Texas’ 18th District, a deep-blue seat vacated by the death of longtime Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Harris County Democrats handpicked Turner as their nominee for the regular election, which he easily won. He did not run in the concurrent special election for Jackson Lee’s unexpired term; that race was won by the late congresswoman’s daughter, Erica Carter Lee, who served until Turner was sworn in on Jan. 3. There are now three vacancies in the House, where Republicans enjoy only a threadbare majority. Two seats in Florida are currently vacant and favored to be filled by Republicans in April 1 special elections. New York Rep. Elise Stefanik is also expected to vacate her deep-red seat once she is confirmed as ambassador to the United Nations. During his brief time in Congress, Turner landed seats on the Homeland Security and the Science, Space and Technology committees. He was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus and the center-left New Democrat Coalition. The first bill he introduced was legislation previously championed by Jackson Lee, which was aimed at increasing cybersecurity training for employees at the Department of Homeland Security who hold noncybersecurity positions. Turner worked with another Houston-area congressman, Republican Morgan Luttrell, on the legislation. A previous version, sponsored by Jackson Lee, passed the House in December. Turner also made bolstering access to Medicaid a priority, inviting a district resident whose daughter relies on Medicaid to Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday. He unveiled legislation in February aimed at allowing incarcerated individuals to access Medicaid coverage if they are in pretrial detention. “President Trump and Elon Musk’s push to gut Medicaid is nothing short of a betrayal of the most vulnerable among us. They are playing politics with children’s lives, and I will not stand for it,” he posted on social media shortly before Trump’s address, echoing Democratic assertions that Republicans are eyeing cuts to the program to fund their legislative agenda. Turner’s long political career began in the 1980s. After an unsuccessful bid for the Harris County Commission, he was elected to the Texas House in 1988, becoming the first Black lawmaker to represent his Houston-area district in the chamber. He served in the state House for 27 years, leaving in 2015 when he was elected mayor of Houston on his third try. He served two terms as Houston mayor and was succeeded by fellow Democrat and former state legislative colleague John Whitmire last year. Whitmire announced Turner’s death during a Wednesday City Council meeting, calling the late congressman a “remarkable public servant” who had an impact on millions. Turner grew up the sixth of nine children in Houston. He was one of the first Black students sent to Klein Intermediate School, a predominantly white school 18 miles away. His father died of cancer when Turner was 13 and did not receive medical treatment — only pain pills. “My dad didn't have any access to health care, but he made the decision he was gonna work until he couldn't work anymore because he had nine kids to feed,” Turner told CQ Roll Call in September. “My dad literally worked up until the last day, got seriously ill and passed away. So that left an impression.” Most of his older siblings worked to help support their mother and the rest of the family after their father died. He attributed his ability to go to college and law school to their efforts. After Turner graduated from Harvard Law School in 1980, he returned home to Houston, eventually joining an all-Black law firm before launching into politics. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who would be responsible for calling a special election to succeed Turner, called the late congressman “a man of character who served his fellow Texans for more than 36 years.” “From his time as State Representative, to Mayor of Houston, and finally representing Texas’ 18th Congressional District, Congressman Turner leaves behind a legacy of service to our great state,” Abbott said in a statement. House Democratic Whip Katherine M. Clark praised Turner for his “lasting impact” despite his brief tenure in Congress. “His warmth, insightful leadership, and unwavering strength of character will be profoundly missed,” she said in a statement. Nina Heller and Donna Steward contributed to this report.
