U.S. Congressman and Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Passes Away at 70

U.S. Congressman and seasoned Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has passed away at the age of 70, as confirmed by U.S. representatives and sources on Wednesday. This announcement comes only a few months after he secured a victory in the race for Texas’ 18th Congressional District. Turner, a cornerstone in the history of Texas’ largest city, dedicated eight years as Houston’s mayor and devoted 27 years to serving in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 139 from 1989 to 2016.

Turner was present at President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night, according to posts on his X account.

“We’ve lost an exceptional public servant,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire stated at city hall on Wednesday. “Experience cannot be replaced, folks. No one can fill Sylvester’s shoes and continue his work, as he was truly one of a kind.”

A true Houstonian, Turner was born in 1954 and was raised in the suburbs of Acres Homes.

In the latter part of his mayoral term in 2022, Turner revealed he had privately been battling bone cancer. He received an osteosarcoma diagnosis after a doctor detected a tumor on his jaw during a dental appointment, initially prompted by a toothache.

By the end of 2022, Turner announced he was cancer-free.

During his time as mayor, Turner secured strong backing for his campaigns focused on addressing Houston’s potholes, infrastructure, public safety, and flooding issues. Last year, he came out of a brief retirement to vie for the late Sheila Jackson Lee’s congressional seat, engaging in a head-to-head battle. His campaign for the congressional seat concentrated on his commitment to securing federal aid for hurricane recovery efforts, tackling cancer clusters in Houston’s Fifth Ward, and ensuring police accountability. Turner also prioritized passing comprehensive reforms to combat gun violence, reduce educational inequality, and address the soaring costs of living.