## Who was Rep. Sylvester Turner? The Texas Democrat who died right after Trump's speech

Tributes have been pouring in for Democratic Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas since he died this week shortly after attending  joint address to Congress.

Turner died  at his home in Washington, D.C., the age of 70 just two months into his term as a member of the House of Representatives. He announced in 2022 that he had been treated for bone cancer and was cancer-free. His cause of death remains unknown.

"Brenda Gail and I are heartbroken by the passing of my friend Sylvester Turner," wrote . "He was a devoted public servant who cared deeply for Houstonians. Just last night, we spoke on the House Floor − life is too short."

 "He wasn't here very long, but his tenure will be felt by everyone," Aguilar told USA TODAY.

Alabama Rep. Terri Sewell, a fellow member of the Congressional Black Caucus, told USA TODAY that “all of us are reeling” from the news.

“ only been a colleague for a short period of time, but he's left such an indelible imprint on our caucus,” Sewell said. “He was an amazing mayor. Sheila Jackson Lee's footsteps are hard to fill. He filled them and really made his own imprint and we will miss him.”

Rodney Ellis, a Harris County Commissioner in Houston, told USA TODAY that he was devastated by the news of Turner’s passing.

Ellis had known Turner since they were both teens living in the Houston area.

“We carried numerous legislative proposals together, covered one another's backs, stirred up a lot of good trouble together, made some differences,” Ellis said.

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