Congressman Sylvester Turner, who was just two months into his first term representing the 18th Congressional District of Texas, died on Tuesday, according to the Texas Democratic Party. He was 70 years old. Turner told the press in 2022 that he was cancer-free after secretly receiving treatment for bone cancer.
Turner was elected to Congress after Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee’s death in 2024.
Turner graduated from the University of Houston and Harvard Law School, then served as an adjunct professor at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law. Turner served 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives, during which time he was a powerful member of the Texas House Appropriations Committee. He was also Speaker Pro Tem for six years, helping shape the state’s fiscal policy.
“Sylvester Turner was known as the conscience of the Texas House, bringing moral clarity and a deep commitment to his community back home in Houston to every debate and policy discussion,” said Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu, in a statement on Wednesday. “Rep. Turner’s legacy of fighting for affordable housing, disaster recovery, and criminal justice reform continues to inspire and guide our caucus today. The wisdom, integrity, and strategic vision he brought to public service will continue to inspire generations of Texans committed to building a more just and equitable state.”
In his two terms as Houston mayor from 2016 to 2024, Turner guided the city during Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic. He launched Houston’s first Climate Action Plan, committing to carbon neutrality by 2050, and provided over 20,000 jobs to young adults through his Hire Houston Youth program.
Turner also served as Chair of the African American Mayors Association and a trustee of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. A lifelong Houstonian, Turner was the proud father of one daughter and grandfather of one grandson.
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