US Rep., former Houston mayor Turner, dies at 70
HOUSTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas has died two months after taking office and hours after attending President Donald Trump’s address before Congress in Washington, D.C., officials and his family said on Wednesday. He was 70.
While attending Trump’s speech to Congress, Turner was taken to a hospital and later released, Turner’s family said in a statement.
Turner’s family said that at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday, “he died at his home from enduring health complications.”
The family did not offer additional information on those health complications. In November 2022, Turner revealed he had undergone treatment, including surgery and radiation therapy, earlier that year for bone cancer in his jaw.
“Congressman Turner was the consummate public servant. But to us, he was our beloved father, grandfather, sibling and relative. Thank you for your prayers,” the family said in its statement.
“The House Democratic Caucus family is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Congressman Sylvester Turner. Though he was newly elected to the Congress, Rep. Turner had a long and distinguished career in public service and spent decades fighting for the people of Houston,” House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said.