Former Houston Mayor
Congressman Sylvester Turner, who served two terms as Houston Mayor, died Tuesday, after falling ill last night.. He was 70.
Turner, a Democrat who had recently been elected to represent Texas’ 18th Congressional District, had previously battled bone cancer, NBC News reported.
Turner’s tenure as Houston’s mayor was marked by his leadership during crises, including Hurricane Harvey in 2017, which caused catastrophic flooding throughout the city. Under his administration, Houston undertook major recovery efforts and infrastructure improvements to mitigate future disasters. He also spearheaded initiatives to expand affordable housing, improve public safety and advance economic development, positioning Houston as a hub for innovation and growth.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries remembered his fellow Democrat Turner–who fell ill shortly after attending President Donald Trump’s speech to a joint session of the U.S. Congress last night–as an “iconic leader” and a “fighter until the end.”
Turner was a fixture in Texas politics long before his congressional tenure. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he practiced law before serving in the Texas House of Representatives for over 25 years. In 2015, he was elected Houston’s mayor. His administration played a key role in preparing Houston for major events, such as the 2017 Super Bowl and the city’s response to the pandemic. However, his efforts on affordable housing were criticized after lofty goals fell flat, and the city’s housing authority has been in turmoil.
Turner’s unexpected death leaves a vacancy in Texas’ 18th Congressional District, a seat previously held by the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died of pancreatic cancer in July. Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to call a special election to fill the position in the coming months.
Tributes poured in from both sides of the aisle, with colleagues remembering Turner’s dedication to public service. Rep. Mike McCaul praised him as a “dedicated public servant,” while Speaker of the House Mike Johnson acknowledged his long-standing commitment to his constituents.
