SHOCK LOSS Rep. Sylvester Turner dies just hours after attending Trump’s Congress speech and sending warning to prez in final video
DEMOCRATIC Congressman Sylvester Turner has died at age 70, hours after he issued a warning to the Trump administration about making cuts to Medicaid.
Turner, who was elected to Texas‘ 18th Congressional District in November, died on Wednesday in a Washington DC hospital.
One Democrat told NBC News that Turner had a medical emergency in the underground tunnel that connects the Capitol with the Cannon Building.
Several Democratic lawmakers told the outlet they either saw or spoke to Turner on the House floor before President Trump’s address to Congress.
“It’s my duty as the mayor to confirm that Congressman Sylvester Turner, a former mayor, state representative for 24 years, passed away last night,” Houston Mayor John Whitmire said during a council meeting on Wednesday.
Whitmire said Turner was working in Washington DC before he suffered a medical emergency and was rushed to the hospital.
“This comes as a shock to everyone. I would ask Houstonians to come together. Pray for his family, join us in celebrating this remarkable public servant. Celebrate his life, which we will be doing,” Whitmire added.
“Not any people know how close Sylvester and I was. As recently as two weeks ago we were together as friends, as public servants.”
A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
Turner, who joined the 119th Congress in January, issued a message to the Trump administration minutes before the president’s remarks to members of Congress on Tuesday evening.
In what turned out to be his final X post, he warned Trump not to “mess with Medicaid.”
Turner stood by his guest, Angela Hernandez, for the president’s address to Congress.
In the video, the Congressman explained how Hernandez was there to “advocate for the importance of Medicaid.”
Hernandez went on to detail how her 2-year-old daughter suffers from a rare genetic disorder.
“My daughter is Baislee Garcia. She’s 2 years old, she has a rare genetic disorder, Chromosome 8p: Inversion/Duplication/Deletion,” the mother from Turner’s district in Houston said.
“[It] causes a lot of developmental and medical challenges. So, losing Medicaid would be devastating to us.”
Turner then chimed in, saying, “So, please let people know, don’t mess with Medicaid.”
In his X post, Turner accused President Trump and his billionaire pal Elon Musk of “playing politics” with children’s lives.
“Let me be clear: any cuts to Medicaid are a direct attack on families like Angela’s,” he wrote.
“President Trump and Elon Musk’s push to gut Medicaid is nothing short of a betrayal of the most vulnerable among us. They are playing politics with children’s lives, and I will not stand for it.”
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NEWLY ELECTED CONGRESSMAN
Turner died just weeks after being sworn into Congress.
He won election in November, succeeding Sheila Jackson Lee.
Jackson Lee died from pancreatic cancer at the age of 74 in July 2024.
Turner died more than two years after being diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer in his jaw.
His diagnosis came in June 2022 after going to the dentist with a toothache, per the Texas Tribune.
Turner disclosed his cancer battle in his State of the City address in November 2022.
His daughter Ashley didn’t know he had been diagnosed with the illness.
Turner had only told her he had a growth on his jaw.
CAPITOL HILL MOURNS SYLVESTER TURNER
Tributes have been paid to Turner from across the world of politics.
“I’m so heartbroken to learn about the passing of my dear friend Congressman and former Mayor Sylvester Turner,” Jaime Harrison, the former chair of the Democratic Party, wrote on X.
“We became friends during the DNC Convention Site selection process in 2018.
“A visionary leader and advocate… I will miss my friend and he will be missed by so many in his beloved Houston, TX.
“My heartfelt condolences to his family and friends.”
Robin Kelly, who represents Illinois‘ second congressional district, described Turner as “compassionate.”
“He made a lasting impact on the state of Texas, and leaves behind a legacy that will never be forgotten,” she said.
Debbie Dingall, who represents Michigan‘s 6th congressional district, described Turner as a “colleague and a friend” in her own social media tribute.
Turner’s death means there are 218 Republicans and 214 Democrats in the House, with three vacancies.
Special elections will take place in two Republican leaning districts in Florida.
