Texas Lawmaker Dies Soon After Attending Trump’s Address to Congress

Texas Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-TX) passed away suddenly Tuesday night after being hospitalized in Washington, D.C., just hours after attending President Donald Trump’s address to Congress. The shocking news was confirmed by Houston Mayor John Whitmire. Turner was 70 years old and had just begun his first term in Congress after replacing the late Sheila Jackson Lee.

The cause of Turner’s death remains unknown, though he had previously battled osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. In 2022, Turner underwent surgery to remove part of his jaw, followed by weeks of radiation treatment.

• Turner attended Trump’s speech Tuesday night, posting on social media beforehand about welcoming his guest, Angela Hernandez.

• He previously served as Houston’s mayor from 2016 to 2024 and was a Texas state representative for 27 years.

• His passing marks the second time in less than a year that Texas’ 18th congressional district has lost its representative, following the death of Jackson Lee last July.

Rep. Randy Weber (R-TX) expressed his sorrow over Turner’s passing, recalling that he had spoken with him on the House floor just hours before his death.

“Brenda Gail and I are heartbroken by the passing of my friend Sylvester Turner,” Weber said. “We served together in the Texas House, and I had the honor of working alongside him in Congress, even if only for a short time. He was a devoted public servant who cared deeply for Houstonians.”

Turner’s sudden death leaves a vacancy in Congress and raises questions about what comes next for Texas’ 18th district. With a special election likely on the horizon, Texas Democrats now face another unexpected challenge in maintaining their seat in the House.

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