Congressman Sylvester Turner, newly inaugurated into the U.S. House of Representatives, died at the age of 70 on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.
Turner, affiliated with the Democratic Party, previously served as Houston, Texas’s mayor for eight years prior to his Congressional term. He passed away the morning after attending President Donald Trump’s address to Congress.
He represented Texas’s 18th congressional district, taking office in January after succeeding Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died of pancreatic cancer in July 2024.
According to the Courthouse News Service, Turner succumbed to bone cancer at a Washington, D.C., hospital. In 2022, he announced treatment for osteosarcoma in his jaw and declared himself cancer-free during his campaign.
Turner’s sudden death shocked his Congressional colleagues, many of whom saw him at the Presidential address the previous evening. A video on his social media showed him in Washington, D.C., for the event.
The House Democratic Caucus expressed sorrow and surprise, acknowledging his commitment to Houston, according to KCCI.
Turner’s public service career included nearly 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives before becoming Houston’s mayor in 2016. He guided the city through challenges like the Hurricane Harvey flooding in 2017.
The family of Jackson Lee endorsed Turner as her successor in the Democratic district, covering much of inner-city Houston. Turner won the November 2024 election and assumed office in January 2025.
Following Turner’s death, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a special election to fill the 18th district seat.
His passing changed the House’s balance. As Courthouse News Service reported, “Turner’s death leaves the House at a 218-214 split, giving Republicans one extra vote of breathing room in the upcoming legislative contest over the federal budget.”
Though Turner’s Congressional service was brief, lasting just two months, his public service legacy spans over three decades, marking him as a significant political figure in Houston.
The 18th congressional district has historically been represented by prominent Democrats, including Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to Congress from the South, and Jackson Lee, who served nearly 30 years until 2024.
As news of Turner’s death spread, tributes from across the political spectrum recognized his service to Houston and Texas.
The special election for Texas’s 18th district was held on May 4, 2025, according to the Texas Secretary of State.
State Representative Jarvis Johnson, a Democrat and former Houston City Council member, won the election with over 50% of the vote, avoiding a runoff. Johnson was sworn in as the new representative and plans to focus on infrastructure and healthcare.
