Sylvester Turner

Sylvester Turner was an American politician and attorney of the Democratic Party. Born on September 27, 1954, in Acres Homes, Houston, Texas, Turner was a lifelong Houstonian and dedicated public servant who represented Texas House District 139 and later Texas's 18th congressional district.

Turner passed away on March 5, 2025, at the age of 70. During his career, he served as a state representative, municipal executive, and member of Congress, earning recognition for his advocacy on social issues and support for marginalized communities.

Education

Turner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston and a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School. He worked as a trial lawyer and co-founded his own firm specializing in commercial law and personal injury litigation. Additionally, he taught at the Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University, the South Texas College of Law, and the University of Houston Law School's continuing legal education program.

Political Experience

*Texas House of Representatives *

Turner was first elected to the Texas House of Representatives in 1988, representing District 139, a mostly minority district in Harris County. He served for 27 years and held several leadership positions, including Speaker Pro Tempore from 2003 to 2009. He also chaired the Texas Legislative Black Caucus and the Greater Houston Area Legislative Delegation.

His major legislative achievement was House Bill 109 , passed in 2007, which expanded access to the children's health insurance program. Turner also championed policies to attract doctors to underserved areas, proposed increasing state funding for mental health services in Harris County from $32 million to $200 million, and worked to increase funds for legal aid for poor Texans.

*Mayor of Houston *

Turner was elected as Houston's 62nd mayor in 2015, narrowly winning a runoff against Bill King. He was re-elected in 2019 and served until reaching his term limit in 2024. As mayor, he created the city's first LGBTQ Task Force, enabling queer and trans Houstonians to participate more actively in city policymaking.

*U.S. House of Representatives *

Following the death of Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, Turner announced his candidacy for Texas's 18th congressional district. He won the Democratic primary and the general election in November 2024, taking office in January 2025. During his brief tenure in Congress, he served on the Homeland Security Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

Throughout his career, Turner was known for championing social progress and serving as a steadfast ally to the LGBTQIA+ community, vocally opposing discriminatory legislation and standing against attempts to marginalize transgender Texans.