Rep. Sylvester Turner (D-Texas), former Houston Mayor and newly elected congressman, passed away late Tuesday at the age of 70. He had served just two months and one day in office before his unexpected death. The cause of his passing remains undisclosed.
Turner’s Political Journey and Contributions
Turner served in the Texas state senate for 17 years before becoming Houston’s mayor, a position he held for eight years. In 2024, he was elected to Congress, succeeding Sheila Jackson Lee, who passed away while serving.
John Whitmire, the current Mayor of Houston, and Jaime Harrison, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, confirmed Turner’s passing. Harrison expressed his grief on social media, calling Turner a “visionary leader and advocate.”
Turner’s Last Message to the Trump Administration
My message to the current administration for tonight’s State of the Union: “Don’t mess with Medicaid.”
I am proud to have Angela Hernandez here from our Congressional district as my guest. She is representing and advocating for her daughter Baislee Garcia who has a rare genetic… pic.twitter.com/n9p49IXGHa
— U.S. Representative Sylvester Turner (@repsturner) March 5, 2025
Turner’s final words on X (formerly Twitter) have gone viral, as he warned the Trump administration against cutting Medicaid.
Heartbroken doesn’t even begin to cover it. Congressman Sylvester Turner was so kind and encouraging. He always made me feel like greater things were possible. Houston will not be the same without him.
Rest easy ST 💜 pic.twitter.com/uLatSjYZNw
— Olivia Julianna 🇺🇸🦅🗳️ (@0liviajulianna) March 5, 2025
In his last post, Turner introduced Angela Hernandez, a Congressional district resident advocating for her daughter, Baislee Garcia, who has a rare genetic disorder (Chromosome 8p: Inversion/Duplication/Deletion). He firmly stated:
“Don’t mess with Medicaid.”
He criticized Trump and Elon Musk’s reported efforts to cut Medicaid, calling it a “betrayal of the most vulnerable among us.”
Tributes and Public Reactions
Turner attended President Trump’s speech to Congress on the night of his passing. His colleague, Rep. Al Green (D-Texas), who was removed from the House chamber for disrupting Trump’s speech, expressed shock:
“We were on the floor together last night. You never know for whom the bell will toll next.”
Netizens reacted emotionally to Turner’s final message:
- “His last words to his constituents were ‘don’t mess with Medicaid.’ RIP.”
- “70 just seems too young. What happened to him?”
- “No one should die still working. At 70, he should be enjoying retirement.”
Others debated Medicaid policies, with some supporting reforms while ensuring those in need are protected.
Turner’s Health Battles and Congressional Vacancies
In November 2022, Turner revealed he had bone cancer in his jaw, for which he underwent radiation therapy and surgery. It remains unclear if his condition contributed to his passing.
Following Turner’s death, three vacancies remain in the House of Representatives, with 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats. Special elections will be held on April 1 to fill seats, including Republican-leaning districts in Florida.
Turner’s passing leaves behind a legacy of advocacy, leadership, and unwavering commitment to public service. His final message continues to spark conversations about Medicaid and the future of healthcare policies in the U.S.
