Houston Mourns: Beloved Congressman Dies Suddenly After Trump Speech

2025-03-06 00:00:43.149

Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas passed away at age 70, two months after taking office and hours after attending President Donald Trump’s address to Congress. Turner's family stated that he died at his home from enduring health complications at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday. In November 2022, he revealed he had undergone treatment for bone cancer in his jaw. Before his congressional career, Turner served two terms as Houston's mayor. Reactions poured in from fellow politicians, including House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who praised Turner's long career of public service. Turner's death was announced during Wednesday’s Houston City Council meeting by Mayor John Whitmire, who described Turner as a personal friend and advisor. Before Trump's speech, Turner posted a video on social media introducing his guest and criticizing the administration's stance on Medicaid. Whitmire reported that Turner didn't feel well during the speech, went home, and was later hospitalized. Turner's career spanned decades, including 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives and eight years as Houston's mayor, where he led the city through challenges like Hurricane Harvey. He was born and raised in Houston's Acres Homes and earned degrees from the University of Houston and Harvard Law School before becoming a trial lawyer and founding his own law firm. He was elected to the Texas House in 1988 and served for nearly three decades before becoming mayor in 2015. He was elected to Congress in November, filling the seat previously held by the late U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee.