WASHINGTON — First-term Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Texas, died Wednesday after suffering a medical emergency following President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, according to two House Democratic lawmakers who were informed of his death.
He was 70 years old and had just taken the oath of office in January. Turner previously faced bone cancer.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., later Wednesday confirmed Turner’s death in a statement, calling the former Houston mayor an “iconic leader” and a “fighter until the end.”
“The House Democratic Caucus family is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner. 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,” Jeffries said.
At a closed-door Democratic meeting Wednesday morning, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark, D-Mass., announced to colleagues that Turner had died and that his family has been notified, according to one lawmaker who attended the meeting.
Rep. Sylvester Turner previously served as the mayor of Houston.
Another Democrat who saw Turner in the underground tunnel that connects the Capitol with the Cannon Building said that it appeared Turner was having a medical emergency early Tuesday afternoon. Capitol Police were notified and went to assist him, the lawmaker said.
Several Democratic lawmakers said Wednesday they either saw Turner or spoke to him on the House floor before Trump’s joint address to Congress. Photographs and video from the speech also show Turner seated toward the back of the chamber.
Around 8:30 p.m. ET, shortly before the address began, Turner posted a video on social media with his guest, Angela Hernandez, who was advocating for her daughter who has a rare genetic disorder.
“Angela is here to advocate on the importance of Medicaid,” Turner said in the video. “So please let people know, ‘Don’t mess with Medicaid.'”
Jeffries referenced that video in his tribute to Turner.
“Like those before him, 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,” Jeffries said. “In what would be his final message to his beloved constituents last night he reminded us ‘don’t mess with Medicaid.'”
Turner was elected to Congress in November and served as mayor of Houston from 2016 to 2024. Before that, he had graduated from Harvard Law School, worked as an attorney in Houston, and then served more than a quarter century as a state lawmaker.
When longtime Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, died of pancreatic cancer last July, Turner, an ally of the congresswoman, announced he would run for her seat and was selected by local Democratic leaders to appear on the November ballot since Jackson Lee had already won her primary that March.
He easily won the seat and was sworn in on Jan. 3. Turner was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
Turner’s death means that Republicans now hold a 218-214 majority. Under that breakdown, Republicans can still only afford one GOP defection on any vote if all lawmakers are present and voting.
According to Texas election law, Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, must call a special election to fill the vacancy, but that process could 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 an extraordinary legacy of service as Mayor of Houston and the Representative for Texas’ 18th Congressional District.”
Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, also remembered Turner and his constituents.
“Deeply saddened by the passing of former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, a dedicated public servant who stepped up to take the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s seat in January,” McCaul wrote on X. “My thoughts and prayers go out to his family, loved ones, and the people of Houston as they grieve yet another loss.”
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said on X that Turner “served his community faithfully, not only as a member of Congress, but as a former state legislator and a mayor of Houston. Our prayers are with his family and constituents as they mourn his loss.”
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
