WASHINGTON — Representative Sylvester Turner, a Texas Democrat and former mayor of Houston, died early Wednesday at his residence in Washington, just hours after attending President Donald J. Trump’s State of the Union address. He was 70.
His family confirmed his death, citing ongoing health complications. Mr. Turner had previously disclosed a battle with bone cancer, for which he had undergone surgery and radiation therapy.
Mr. Turner, who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November, had served less than three months in Congress. Before his tenure in Washington, he was a fixture in Texas politics, representing Houston in the state legislature for 27 years before serving two terms as mayor, where he oversaw the city’s recovery from Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
A longtime advocate for expanded healthcare access, Mr. Turner spent his final evening in the House chamber advocating for Medicaid protections. Hours before his death, he shared a message on social media highlighting his guest at the president’s address, a Texas mother whose child suffers from a rare genetic disorder. “Don’t mess with Medicaid,” he wrote.
Mr. Turner reportedly experienced discomfort during the speech and was transported to a hospital before being released. He later passed away at home, according to his family.
Born and raised in Houston’s historically Black Acres Homes neighborhood, Mr. Turner attended the University of Houston and Harvard Law School before entering public service. His career was defined by his commitment to addressing inequality in healthcare, housing, and education.
Following the news of his passing, tributes poured in from colleagues across the political spectrum. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries called Mr. Turner “the definition of a public servant,” while Houston’s current mayor, John Whitmire, praised his “unwavering dedication to the people of Texas.”
Governor Greg Abbott is expected to call a special election to fill Mr. Turner’s seat in Texas’s 18th Congressional District, a Democratic stronghold.
Mr. Turner is survived by his daughter, Ashley Page Turner, and a grandson. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
