On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, Sylvester Turner, U.S. Representative from Texas, passed away at the age of 70. His death was confirmed by multiple sources. Rep. Turner was sworn into Congress only two months prior to his death.
Prior to his congressional term, Turner, a Democrat, served as the mayor of Houston, Texas for eight years. His death occurred the day after he attended President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress.
Turner began his congressional role in January, representing Texas’s 18th congressional district. He took up the position in the wake of Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee’s death in July 2024, following her fight against pancreatic cancer.
Although the official cause of Turner’s death is yet to be declared, the Courthouse News Service reported that he succumbed to bone cancer at a hospital in Washington. In 2022, Turner revealed that he had undergone treatment for osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer in his jaw, and later announced he was cancer-free during his congressional campaign.
Tuesday evening, many colleagues had seen Turner at the presidential address. His sudden death therefore shocked his co-workers. A video posted on Turner’s X account on Tuesday showed him in Washington, D.C.
The House Democratic Caucus expressed shock and sorrow at the unexpected death of Turner, recognizing his long-standing dedication to serving the people of Houston, according to KCCI.
Turner’s career in public service spanned nearly 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives before he started his tenure as Houston’s mayor in 2016. During his time as mayor, he led the nation’s fourth-largest city through several significant trials, including the devastating floods caused by Hurricane Harvey in 2017.
Following Jackson Lee’s death, her family preferred Turner to succeed her in representing the largely Democratic district, which encompasses much of inner-city Houston. Turner won the November 2024 election and took the oath of office in January 2025.
In the wake of Turner’s death, a special election will be called by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to fill the now-empty 18th congressional district seat. As reported by Fox26Houston, “The special election will be held on May 3, 2025, the next regularly scheduled election date. Candidates wishing to run for the seat must file an application for a spot on the ballot, and the winner must receive the majority of votes.”
Until a new representative is elected, the district offices will continue to deliver constituent services under the oversight of the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
Turner’s death has an impact on the balance of power in the narrowly divided House of Representatives. As reported by Courthouse News Service, “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.”
Although his congressional career was brief, Turner’s commitment to public service was enduring, stretching over three decades and establishing him as a notable political figure in Houston.
The 18th congressional district has a history of being represented by notable Democratic politicians, including Barbara Jordan, the first Black woman elected to Congress from the South. She was succeeded by Jackson Lee, who held the seat for close to 30 years from 1995 until her death in 2024.
News of Turner’s passing elicited tributes from colleagues across the political spectrum, acknowledging his long-standing public service to Houston and Texas.