News broke of the sudden death of a prominent lawmaker hours after President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.  

The nation was still reeling from the spirit-lifting address of President Trump when the City of Houston confirmed on Wednesday morning that Democratic Representative Sylvester Turner (D-TX) had passed away unexpectedly. 

Rep. Turner’s sudden death comes just weeks after beginning his term in office. The lawmaker, aged 70, secured his congressional seat in November, succeeding the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). He was sworn into office in January and was present for Trump’s speech on Tuesday evening.  

According to sources close to the Democrat lawmaker, he began to feel unwell. Turner went to a hospital where he was treated and later released. However, he died that same evening at his home. The cause of death remains unknown at this time. 

A special election for Turner’s replacement will have to be held to fill the vacancy, according to Reuters. Until then, the lawmaker’s death temporarily widens the Republicans’ slim majority in the U.S. House of Representatives to 218-214. 

In a shocking twist of fate, Turner was sworn into office in January to fill the vacant seat of the late Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX). Just like Turner, Jackson died in office in July 2024 at the age of 74 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer..

Turner, who served as mayor of Houston from 2016 through 2024, was fiercely opposed to President Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to cut waste and fraud in Medicaid. 

“My message to the current administration for tonight’s State of the Union: ‘Don’t mess with Medicaid,'” Turner wrote in the video posted on X moments before Trump’s address. “President Trump and Elon Musk’s push to gut Medicaid is nothing short of a betrayal of the most vulnerable among us.”

Houston Mayor John Whitmire issued a statement describing Turner as a “remarkable public servant who impacted millions of people.”

“He rose from poverty, but never forgot where he came from,” Whitmire continued, calling Turner’s death “a terrible loss for the city.”

House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) described Turner as a fighter. The New York lawmaker said he was shocked and saddened at his colleague’s sudden death. 

“He was present yesterday evening to ensure that the voice of one of his constituents, who relies on Medicaid, was heard. In what would be his final message to his beloved constituents last night, he reminded us ‘don’t mess with Medicaid.’ May he forever rest in power,” Jeffries said.