Sheila Jackson Lee

Sheila Jackson Lee
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 18th district
In office
January 3, 1995 – July 19, 2024
Preceded byCraig Washington
Succeeded byErica Lee Carter
Member of the Houston City Council
from the at-large district
In office
January 2, 1990 – January 3, 1995
Preceded byAnthony Hall
Succeeded byJohn Peavy
Personal details
Born
Sheila Jackson

(1950-01-12)January 12, 1950
Queens, New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 19, 2024(2024-07-19) (aged 74)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)
​
(m. 1973)​
[1]
Children2
EducationYale University (BA)
University of Virginia (JD)
WebsiteHouse website
Sheila Jackson Lee's voice
Sheila Jackson Lee speaks in support of the Equal Rights Amendment
Recorded April 27, 2023

Sheila Jackson Lee (January 12, 1950 – July 19, 2024) was an American politician. She was a member of the House of Representatives for almost 30 years, starting in 1995. She represented Texas' 18th congressional district. The district includes Greater Houston. She was a member of the U.S. Democratic Party.[2] She unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Houston in 2023.

Political career

She was born in New York City, but her political career began in Houston, Texas.

Jackson Lee first became a member of the Houston City Council in 1990. She was so until 1994.[3]

Jackson Lee was active on immigration issues. She proposed increasing border security and increasing legalization for "illegal" immigrants living in the United States.[4] She also supported LGBT rights.

In March 2023, Jackson Lee announced that she would run for mayor of Houston in the 2023 election.[5] In November 2023, she advanced to a runoff with State Senator John Whitmire. She lost the runoff on December 9, 2023.

Death

In June 2024, Jackson Lee announced that she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.[6][7] She died at a hospital in Houston on July 19, 2024, at the age of 74.[8][9] She was replaced by her daughter, Erica Lee Carter, in the U.S. House.[10]

References

  1. ↑ "Congressional Directory for the 116th Congress (2019–2020), July 2020. [Page 263]". GovInfo. July 22, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Sheila Jackson Lee". House.gov. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Sheila Jackson Lee". Vote Smart. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Texas Democrat Gets Praise for Immigration Efforts". Gov Exec. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
  5. ↑ Svitek, Patrick (2023-03-27). "U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee is running for Houston mayor". The Texas Tribune. Retrieved 2023-03-27.
  6. ↑ Hao, Claire. "Sheila Jackson Lee announces she has pancreatic cancer". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  7. ↑ Jones II, Arthur. "Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee diagnosed with pancreatic cancer". ABC News. Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  8. ↑ Shen, Michelle (July 20, 2024). "Sheila Jackson Lee, long-serving Democratic congresswoman and advocate for Black Americans, dies at 74". CNN. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
  9. ↑ Langer, Emily (July 19, 2024). "Sheila Jackson Lee, outspoken Texas congresswoman, dies at 74". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
  10. ↑ Terry, Christian (November 10, 2024). "'I am honored': Daughter of Sheila Jackson Lee to be sworn in Tuesday to finish mother's term in Congress". Click2Houston.

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