HOUSTON — Former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner has confirmed with KHOU 11 News anchor Len Cannon that he is "seriously considering" a run for Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee’s seat after it was left vacant when she died Friday.
KHOU 11 was first to report the news from Turner on Tuesday.
Jackson Lee died at the age of 74 after battling pancreatic cancer.
Turner told Cannon that only the passing of his friend at this critical junction in the election cycle would cause him to come out of retirement. He said that with all that’s happening at the national level, he believes the 18th Congressional seat needs stability and continuity.
Turner told KHOU 11 that he would make a decision in the coming days.
Turner, 69, served as mayor of Houston from Jan. 1, 2016, to Jan. 1, 2024. Prior to that, he served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives from 1989 to 2016.
He also had his own battle with cancer back in 2022, which he underwent treatment for.
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Since Jackson Lee’s death, people have been wondering how her seat in Congress will be filled.
There are two parts to replacing her. There will be a special election to determine who fills the rest of her current term. There will also be an appointment for who will replace her on the November ballot when she was to run for re-election.
As for the time left in her current term, unlike in the U.S. Senate, the governor does not appoint someone to fill the empty seat. Instead, Gov. Greg Abbott will have to call for a special election, allowing the public to choose someone to serve out the rest of the term, which ends in January. KHOU 11 political analyst and University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus said anyone can get into that special election.
Rottinghaus also said the governor could take his time calling for the special election.
"The governor can kind of delay things so that it is the case that Republicans have a bit easier time in terms of getting a majority after, that this happens," Rottinghaus said.
As for what happens in November's general election, Jackson Lee was set to run for re-election against Republican Lana Centonze. But now, Harris County Democrats will have to nominate someone to fill her slot on the ballot. If they can't decide on a candidate, Rottinghaus said it goes to a state executive committee.
The winner of the November election will take over the seat in January 2025.