Texas Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, 'Fierce Champion,' Dies at 74

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, who represented the 18th Congressional District of Texas, has died, according to a statement from her family.

The 74-year-old Democrat has served her district, which encompasses a large part of Houston, since 1995. She announced in a statement last month that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was undergoing treatment.

Lee's family said in their statement, which was shared to the congresswoman's account on X, formerly Twitter, that Lee was "a fierce champion of the people" and "was affectionately and simply known as 'Congresswoman' by her constituents in recognition of her near-ubiquitous presence and service to their daily lives for [decades]."

"A local, national and international humanitarian, she was acknowledged worldwide for her courageous fights for racial justice, criminal justice, and human rights, with a special emphasis on women and children," read the statement from Lee's family.

Lee sat as a senior member on three House committees—Judiciary, Homeland Security and Budget—in the 118th U.S. Congress. She was also appointed as the first female ranking member of the Judiciary subcommittee for Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.

Lee's Democratic colleague, Texas Representative Adriano Espaillat, was live for an interview with CNN's Abby Phillip when news of Lee's death broke. When asked by Phillip for his "thoughts" on the news, Espaillat described Lee as "a national hero."

"You know, she ran for mayor [of Houston]," Espaillat recalled. "I think she was trying to come home. She may have been trying to come home. But she will be forever in our hearts no matter where we are, or at home."

Tributes quickly poured in from other Texas leaders Friday night. Representative Wesley Hunt, a Republican whose district bordered Lee's from the west, released a statement saying that while he and Lee "had our political disagreements, there were many moments with her, both public and private, that showed me that bipartisanship and service to country first can still bring members of Congress together."

"In these divided times, Congresswoman Lee and I were able to partner on several legislative initiatives for the city of Houston," Hunt added. "Her steadfast commitment to serving the people of Houston and her tireless work have left an indelible mark on our community and our nation."

Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis also posted a statement to his X account, writing that Lee was his "friend, ally, and long-time political partner."

"Through crises and disasters—as well as triumphs—Sheila's ceaseless and unwavering dedication to those she represented served as an inspiration and source of strength to me in my career," said Ellis, a Democrat.

Texas Senator Roland Gutierrez said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of Lee's passing and shared photos on X of the congresswoman attending a memorial for the victims of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

"The congresswoman came to Uvalde just days after the Robb massacre and was a champion for the victims' families, leading the call for a federal hearing on the tragedy," Gutierrez wrote along with the photos. "Thank you, Rep. Lee."

Texas Senator Ted Cruz also posted a tribute for Lee to his X account, writing that the congresswoman "was a tireless advocate for Houston."

"I will always cherish our friendship & the laughs we shared throughout the years," wrote Cruz, a conservative. "Heidi & I offer our prayers and sincerest condolences to her family."

Update 07/19/24, 11:51 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and background.