The late US Rep. Sylvester Turner is honored by mourners as he lies in state

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Mourners are gathering to honor the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas as he lies in state at Houston’s city hall. Turner died on March 5 after attending President Donald Trump’s address to Congress in Washington the night before.

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People pay their respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Ashley Turner-Captain, center, views the remains her father, of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas, as he lies in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. At left is her husband, Jimmie Captain. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Houston Mayor John Whitmire, center left, and his daughter, Whitney Whitmire, pay their respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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People offer their respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Ashley Turner-Captain and her husband, Jimmy, pay their respects to her father, former mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner as he lies in state at City Hall in Houston, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle via AP)

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Houston Mayor John Whitmire, left, pay his respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Former Houston Mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner is carried into City Hall where he will lie in state in Houston, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Brett Coomer /Houston Chronicle via AP)

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Former Houston Mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner is carried into City Hall where he will lie in state in Houston, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Brett Coomer /Houston Chronicle via AP)

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Former Houston Mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner is carried into City Hall where he will lie in state in Houston, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Brett Coomer /Houston Chronicle via AP)

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Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner speaks during a news conference Nov, 6, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke, File)

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City Hall is lit up in blue in honor of former Mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner where he will lie in state in Houston, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Brett Coomer /Houston Chronicle via AP)

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Houston Police officer Paul Powel, a member of the mayoral security detail, left, and Jeff Syptek embrace as an honor guard gathers for former Houston Mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner to be carried into City Hall where he will lie in state in Houston, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Brett Coomer /Houston Chronicle via AP)

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People pay their respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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Vanessa Graham-Morgan cries as she waits to pay her respects to former mayor and U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner as he lies in state at Houston City Hall in Houston, Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via AP)

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People pay their respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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People pay their respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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People pay their respects as the remains of U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas lie in state at Houston City Hall on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

By NADIA LATHAN

Mourners in Houston paid tribute to the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner of Texas as he lay in state at city hall Tuesday, part of a week of public events to honor the Democratic lawmaker and former mayor.

Turner, 70, died on March 5, just weeks into his first term in the House and only hours after attending President Donald Trump’s address to Congress in Washington. His family said he died at his home following health complications. In 2022, Turner publicly shared that he had undergone surgery and radiation therapy that year for bone cancer in his jaw.

Residents observed a memorial at Houston City Hall, where Turner served as mayor for eight years before being elected to Congress in November. Houston Mayor John Whitmire made brief remarks to mourners and the Houston Symphony performed while visitors paid their respects.

“Sylvester knew each and every community, and he treated everyone with equality and inclusion,” Whitmire said. “That’s what made him really special. He brought that public service and that message across not only our great city, but our great state.”

Turner had filled the House seat held by longtime Democratic Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who died in July. Prior to becoming mayor, Turner served as a legislator in the Texas House of Representatives for 27 years.

Turner is also scheduled to lie in state at the Texas Capitol beginning Thursday. His funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Houston.

Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not yet announced when a special election will be held for Turner’s seat.