Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas Dies at 70

Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner (TX-18) has died at age 70. Turner was just two months into his first term in Congress. He won the seat long-held by fellow Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, who died in July, 2024.^{1 1}Turner did not run in the special election held concurrently with the regular November election. That was won by Jackson Lee's daughter, Erica Lee Carter. She served until Turner was seated as part of the new Congress on January 3.Turner previously served two terms as mayor of Houston, winning that office in 2015.

A special election date will be set by Gov. Greg Abbott (R).

The current composition of the U.S. House is now 218 Republicans, 214 Democrats. There are three vacancies. The other two open seats are both in safe GOP districts in Florida. These will be filled via special election on April 1.