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

Former Houston Mayor and U.S. Congressman Sylvester Turner has died at the age of 70, current Mayor John Whitmire announced Wednesday during a council meeting.

Whitmire stated that Turner was working in Washington, D.C., when he was taken to the hospital and passed away Tuesday night. He was in Washington for President Donald Trump’s address to Congress, according to his X account.

Turner, a native of Acres Homes, served two terms as Houston’s mayor from 2016 to 2024 before being elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in November 2024. He filled the seat previously held by Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away in July. Before his tenure as mayor, Turner spent 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives.

“We had tremendous influence on each other as we were young elected officials,” Whitmire stated. “He and I both loved Houston, we loved Texas, and this great country. It is a personal loss for me. And the reason no one knows how close we are is the mean politics of our city.”

As Houston and the nation mourn his passing, Turner’s legacy of leadership, resilience, and dedication to public service will endure for generations.