Sylvester Turner, the former mayor of Houston and newly sworn-in U.S. Representative, passed away unexpectedly on March at the age of 70. Turner. Turner, who had attended President Donald Trump’s speech to Congress the previous evening, was taken to a hospital afterward and later returned home, where he died. The cause of death has not been confirmed, but Turner had battled health issues, including bone cancer, in recent years, The New York Times reported.
A Democrat and a longtime fixture in Texas politics, Turner served 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives before becoming mayor of Houston in 2016, Houston Public Media reported. He led the city for eight years before leaving office in January 2024. Turner’s impact on Houston was significant, guiding the city through crises like Hurricane Harvey and the covid-19 pandemic, while also championing public safety, infrastructure, and transportation reforms. His efforts included a gun buyback initiative and the Vision Zero traffic safety program, which aimed to reduce traffic fatalities.
After a brief retirement, Turner entered the race for Texas’ 18th Congressional District in 2024, seeking to fill the seat left vacant by the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Turner’s campaign focused on police accountability, gun violence, and improving federal support for communities impacted by natural disasters.
Texas’s 18th congressional district includes much of inner city Houston and the surrounding area. It has been the Downtown Houston district since 1972. The district was first represented by Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to Congress from the South.
Turner was born in Houston in 1954 and grew up in the predominantly Black neighborhood of Acres Homes.
Tributes poured in from city officials and politicians across the country. Turner leaves behind a legacy of service, commitment to his community, and the belief that strong, compassionate leadership can transform cities and lives.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire honored Turner’s legacy, calling him “an outstanding public official,” while other leaders, including Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee and U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, praised his dedication to his community.
