Sheila Jackson Lee — a Houston, Texas-area Democratic congressional representative and longtime member of the Congressional Black Caucus — died on Friday at age 74, her family announced. The news comes just under two months after Jackson Lee was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
“With incredible grief for our loss yet deep gratitude for the life she shared with us, we announce the passing of United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18th Congressional District of Texas,” her family said in a statement Friday. “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.”
Born in New York City in 1950, Jackson Lee received her bachelor’s degree from Yale University in 1972 and a law degree from the University of Virginia in 1975. She moved to Houston with her husband later that decade, where she began her political career as a municipal judge from 1987-1990. She served on the Houston City Council from 1990-1994. That same year, she was elected to the Houseo f Representatives for the first time.
During her 29 years as a member of Congress, Jackson Lee was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus, known for her dogged support for progressive issues and racial justice. She was a strong supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and immigrants’ rights, also known as an effective congressional representative throughout her career.
She was also dogged by accusations of mistreating staff. Five staffers quit in 1998, according to the Houston Press, because of how she treated them. In 2011, it was reported that she had among the highest staff turnover rates of all Congress. She served as chair of the CBC for years, but in 2019 stepped down from that role after a former aide sued her for wrongful termination, alleging she was fired because she reported a rape committed by a supervisor who reported to Jackson Lee.
Jackson Lee ran for mayor of Houston in 2023, ultimately coming in second in the runoff election. During the campaign, audio was leaked in which she berated and spoke abusively to staff members. She later apologized and confirmed the audio was authentic.
She’s survived by her husband of 51 years, Elwyn Lee — a University of Houston official — and their two children.