Rep. Sylvester Turner, Texas Democrat and former mayor of Houston, died suddenly at age 70, just two months into his first congressional term.
Mr. Turner’s cause of death has yet to be released. The Washington Times reached out to Mr. Turner’s office for comment.
Linda Brown, a spokesperson for Turner, told The Associated Press he was taken to a hospital and died at his home on Wednesday morning after being released.
He is survived by a daughter and a grandson.
News of the congressman’s death Wednesday morning came hours after he had posted a video on social media Tuesday night standing outside of his congressional office with his guest for President Trump’s joint address to Congress.
In the video, he introduced Angela Hernandez, a constituent who is worried about Republicans cutting Medicaid because she relies on the government health care program to care for her two-year-old daughter Baislee Garcia, who has a rare genetic disorder.
“Please let people know, don’t mess with Medicaid,” Mr. Turner said.
Mr. Turner won election to Texas’ 18th District in November, filling the seat long held by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died last year from pancreatic cancer.
The congressman served as Houston’s mayor for eight years. Near the end of his tenure in 2022, he underwent treatment for bone cancer, announcing later that year that he was cancer-free.
Mr. Turner, an attorney who graduated from Harvard Law School, also served in the Texas House of Representatives for 27 years.
His death brings the number of members currently serving in the House to 432 and Democrats to 214. Republicans, who have two vacancies from members who resigned for other positions, still maintain a slim one-vote margin.
House Democrats were “shocked and saddened” by Mr. Turner’s sudden passing, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said.
“Though he was newly elected to the Congress, Rep. Turner had a long and distinguished career in public service and spent decades fighting for the people of Houston,” the New York Democrat said.
“Rep. Turner was a fighter until the end – he was present yesterday evening to ensure that the voice of one of his constituents, who relies on Medicaid, was heard,” Mr. Jeffries said.
Rep. Wesley Hunt, a Texas Republican who also represents part of Houston, said he had just spoken to Mr. Turner on Tuesday night before the president’s address — ”never imagining it would be our last conversation.”
“Our hearts go out to the Turner family and all of Houston as we grieve the loss of a man who gave everything to his community,” he said. “May his legacy continue to inspire us all.”
