Sylvester Turner, the former mayor of Houston who won election last November to fill late Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee's seat in District 18, has died, ABC13 learned Wednesday morning. He was 70.

Turner served two terms as mayor of the City of Houston after being elected in 2016.

His tenure ended last January. Ten months later, he ran to fill the seat once held by longtime Congresswoman Jackson Lee, who died of pancreatic cancer in July 2024.

"A remarkable public servant who impacted millions of people. He rose from poverty, but never forgot where he came from. It is a terrible loss for the city and a personal loss for me. I ask Houstonians to celebrate his life," Houston Mayor John Whitmire, who recently attended church with Turner, said.

Whitmire opened Wednesday's council meeting, which paused for an hour of reflection, with remarks about Turner's death. Flags at City Hall have been lowered to half-staff.

"It is with inexpressible sadness that we, the family of Congressman Sylvester Turner, representative for the 18th congressional district of Texas, acknowledge his unexpected passing," his family said in a statement.

According to his family, Turner was taken to the hospital Tuesday night and later released while in Washington, D.C. At 5:45 am Wednesday, he died at home from enduring health complications, the statement read.

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Read the full story, with video, on CultureMap's news partner, ABC13.com.