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

Former Houston Mayor and current U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner has died at the age of 70, according to Houston Mayor John Whitmire.

Whitmire announced Turner’s passing at the start of Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

According to Turner’s family, he attended President Donald Trump’s joint address to Congress on Tuesday night in Washington, D.C. He was later taken to the hospital but was released. Turner died early Wednesday morning at his home in D.C. from “enduring health complications.”

Turner served 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives, representing District 139. He was a bipartisan leader, spending 21 years on the House Appropriations Committee and six years as Speaker Pro Tem. He played a key role in shaping the state’s fiscal policies.

In 2015, Turner was elected as the 62nd Mayor of Houston and was re-elected in 2019. His tenure included seven federally declared natural disasters, including Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 pandemic. He spearheaded pension reforms, reducing financial liabilities by billions, and championed initiatives to improve public safety, environmental sustainability, and economic opportunity.

Mayor Whitmire addressed Turner’s passing in a statement, expressing condolences to Turner’s daughter, Ashley, and his family. He announced that flags on City of Houston buildings had been lowered to half-staff and that City Hall would be illuminated in red, white, and blue in Turner’s honor.

“I was saddened to learn of the death of Congressman and former Mayor Sylvester Turner. My condolences go out to his daughter, Ashley, and his entire family during this difficult time. I ask Houstonians to keep Rep. Turner’s family in your thoughts and prayers,” Whitmire said.

He spoke about his personal and professional history with Turner, stating, “Sylvester and I shared a history that went beyond politics. We served together in the Texas Legislature, and he was my state representative for 24 years. We were together in good times and bad times. Over the years, we attended countless community meetings, church services, and other events. No one has introduced me at public events more than Turner. He asked me to speak at his mother’s funeral, and I was there when Ashley was born, just as he was there when my daughters, Whitney and Sarah, were born.”

Whitmire recalled their last interactions, saying, “This past Saturday, we were both at the Rodeo Houston parade, and two weeks ago, we were at a church in Acres Homes, where we both spoke and took a picture with the pastor’s family. That’s who he was—always present, always connected to the community he loved.”

He praised Turner’s legacy, highlighting his rise from humble beginnings in Acres Homes to becoming a nationally recognized leader. “Sylvester Turner was the proud son of Acres Homes and graduated from Klein High School, the University of Houston, and Harvard Law. He rose from humble beginnings to meet with presidents, kings, and queens, yet he never forgot where he came from.”

Whitmire concluded, “We didn’t always agree politically, but we never took things personally. I’ve lost a friend, and our community has lost a true public servant. There will never be another Sylvester Turner. He was a dedicated public servant until the end. I hope that, in his memory, we all come together and remember that what unites us is far greater than what divides us.”

Details regarding services and memorial plans will be announced at a later date.