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US Rep. and former Houston mayor Sylvester Turner dies at 70

HOUSTON (AP) 鈥 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.
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FILE - Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks during a news conference about voting rights Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)

HOUSTON (AP) 鈥 Democratic 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, 鈥渉e died at his home from enduring health complications.鈥

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.

鈥淭he 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,鈥 House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement.

Before being elected to Congress, Turner served as Houston's mayor for two terms.

During Wednesday鈥檚 Houston City Council meeting, Mayor John Whitmire announced Turner鈥檚 death, saying it 鈥渃omes as a shock to everyone.鈥

鈥淚鈥檝e lost a personal friend, advisor, and we鈥檝e lost an outstanding public official,鈥 Whitmire said.

Before Trump鈥檚 speech Tuesday night, Turner had posted a video on social media introducing his guest for the speech, a mother from Houston, and telling the current administration, 鈥淒on鈥檛 mess with Medicaid.鈥

Whitmire said he was told that during Trump鈥檚 speech Tuesday evening, Turner didn鈥檛 feel good, went home and was later taken to the hospital.

Whitmire said he saw Turner on Saturday at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo parade and he 鈥渓ooked fine.鈥

In a statement, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called Turner 鈥渁 man of character who served his fellow Texans for more than 36 years.鈥

鈥淐ongressman Turner leaves behind a legacy of service to our great state,鈥 Abbott said.

Turner was elected in November, filling the Houston seat that had been held by longtime U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Turner served eight years as Houston鈥檚 mayor, leading the nation鈥檚 fourth-largest city through various challenges, including devastating flooding from in 2017.

Before being elected as mayor, Turner served 27 years in the Texas House of Representatives.

In a statement, Texas House Democrats said Turner 鈥渨ill be remembered as a champion for working families, infrastructure investment, and economic opportunity for all Texans.鈥

鈥淭he wisdom, integrity, and strategic vision he brought to public service will continue to inspire generations of Texans committed to building a more just and equitable state,鈥 said Texas House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Gene Wu.

Turner was born and raised in Houston鈥檚 Acres Homes, a historic Black neighborhood. He earned degrees from the University of Houston and Harvard Law School before working as a trial lawyer and later founding his own law firm. He was elected to the Texas House in 1988 and served for nearly three decades before being elected Houston mayor in 2015.

鈥淪ylvester never forgot where he came from. So, that will be my memory of him. I also will always remember he could light up a crowd,鈥 Whitmire said.

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Juan A. Lozano, The Associated Press

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