Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, aged 69, has been selected as the Democrats' nominee to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee. Jackson Lee, who sadly lost her battle with pancreatic cancer last month, had already secured the Democratic nomination for what would have been her 16th term before her untimely death on July 19.
Turner, a seasoned politician who served as Houston's mayor for eight years, the maximum allowed by term limits, emerged as the favored candidate after garnering the most support from local Democratic precinct chairs during a party meeting in Houston. Prior to his tenure as mayor, Turner had a successful career as a state lawmaker.
The House district in Houston is traditionally a Democratic stronghold, setting the stage for Turner to face off against Republican contender Lana Centonze in the upcoming November election.
Notable figures such as Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Bill Clinton paid their respects to the late Sheila Jackson Lee at her funeral earlier this month. Jackson Lee, who was 74 at the time of her passing, leaves behind a legacy of dedicated service to her constituents and the Democratic Party.
