Rep.-elect Sylvester Turner (D-TX) poses for {a photograph} after becoming a member of different congressional freshmen of the 119th Congress for a gaggle {photograph} on the steps of the Home of Representatives on the U.S. Capitol Constructing on November 15, 2024 in Washington, DC.
Andrew Harnik | Getty Photos
First-term Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, died after struggling a medical emergency following President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, in line with two Home Democratic lawmakers who have been knowledgeable of his dying.
He was 70 years outdated and had simply taken the oath of workplace in January. Turner beforehand confronted bone cancer. His workplace later confirmed in a statement that he had died on Wednesday.
Home Minority Chief Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., paid tribute to Turner, calling the previous Houston mayor and state lawmaker an “iconic chief” and a “fighter till the top.”
“The Home Democratic Caucus household is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner. Although he was newly elected to the Congress, Rep. Turner had an extended and distinguished profession in public service and spent a long time preventing for the individuals of Houston,” Jeffries mentioned.
At a closed-door Democratic assembly Wednesday morning, Home Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., introduced to colleagues that Turner had died and that his household has been notified, in line with one lawmaker who attended the assembly.
Sylvester Turner, mayor of Houston, throughout the 2023 CERAWeek by S&P International convention in Houston, Texas, US, on Friday, March 10, 2023.
F. Carter Smith | Bloomberg | Getty Photos
Round 8:30 p.m. ET, shortly earlier than the tackle started, Turner posted a video on social media along with his visitor, Angela Hernandez, who was advocating for her daughter who has a uncommon genetic dysfunction.
“Angela is right here to advocate on the significance of Medicaid,” Turner mentioned within the video. “So please let individuals know, ‘Do not mess with Medicaid.'”
Jeffries referenced that video in his tribute to Turner.
“Like these earlier than him, Rep. Turner was a fighter till the top — he was current yesterday night to make sure that the voice of certainly one of his constituents, who depends on Medicaid, was heard,” Jeffries mentioned. “In what could be his remaining message to his beloved constituents final night time he reminded us ‘do not mess with Medicaid.'”
Turner was elected to Congress in November and served as mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024. Earlier than that, he had graduated from Harvard Regulation Faculty, labored as an lawyer in Houston, after which served greater than 1 / 4 century as a state lawmaker.
When longtime Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, died of pancreatic most cancers final July, Turner, an ally of the congresswoman, introduced he would run for her seat and was chosen by native Democratic leaders to seem on the November poll since Jackson Lee had already received her main that March.
He simply received the seat and was sworn in on Jan. 3. Turner was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Turner’s dying signifies that Republicans now maintain a 218-214 majority. Below that breakdown, Republicans can nonetheless solely afford one GOP defection on any vote if all lawmakers are current and voting.
In line with Texas election legislation, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, should name a particular election to fill the emptiness, however that course of may take months.
On social media, tributes poured in for Turner. Fellow Congressional Black Caucus member Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Ala., said on X that Turner “leaves behind a rare legacy of service as Mayor of Houston and the Consultant for Texas’ 18th Congressional District.”
Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, additionally remembered Turner and his constituents.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a devoted public servant who stepped as much as take the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s seat in January,” McCaul wrote on X. “My ideas and prayers exit to his household, family members, and the individuals of Houston as they grieve one more loss.”
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on X that Turner “served his neighborhood faithfully, not solely as a member of Congress, however as a former state legislator and a mayor of Houston. Our prayers are along with his household and constituents as they mourn his loss.”
