U.S. Representative Sylvester Turner, a former mayor of Houston and longtime Texas lawmaker, passed away Tuesday night at the age of 70, officials announced Wednesday.
Houston Mayor John Whitmire mourned Turner’s passing, calling him “a remarkable public servant who impacted millions of people.”
“He rose from poverty but never forgot where he came from. It is a terrible loss for the city and a personal loss for me. I ask Houstonians to celebrate his life,” Whitmire said at a City Council meeting.
Turner, a Democrat from Texas, attended former President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night. Hours before his passing, he posted a video on X, saying, “So please let people know, don’t mess with Medicaid,” alongside his guest.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed condolences, noting Turner’s decades of dedication to public service.
“He served his community faithfully, not only as a member of Congress, but as a former state legislator and mayor of Houston. Our prayers are with his family and constituents as they mourn his loss,” Johnson said on X.
Turner served as Houston’s mayor from 2016 to 2024 and spent 27 years representing District 139 in the Texas House of Representatives.
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