WE DON’T HAVE A VOICE

By Roy Douglas Malonson
AframNews
https://aframnews.com/

They all knew he was sick, this isn’t just about losing Congressman Sylvester Turner. It’s about the Democratic power structure in Houston that knowingly put a man with a serious cancer history on the ballot—and now, nearly 800,000 people in the 18th District have no voice in Congress. Turner publicly announced in 2022 that he had been diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. He underwent surgery and radiation. While he later said he was cancer-free, insiders admit his health never fully recovered. Yet in 2024, the Democratic Party fast-tracked his nomination, replacing Sheila Jackson Lee with no primary, no vetting, and no transparency.

Let’s be clear: This wasn’t one man’s decision.

Harris County Democratic Party leaders, including former chair Odus Evbagharu, endorsed him without opening the seat to real competition.

Rodney Ellis, the county commissioner with long-standing influence over local politics, supported Turner without addressing public health concerns.

Local Democratic clubs and donors chose to stay quiet—possibly hoping his legacy would carry him over the finish line, regardless of health.

Media outlets like the Houston Chronicle gave Turner glowing send-offs into retirement but asked no hard questions during the campaign about his ability to serve a full term.

Now we’re paying the price. With Turner’s death just two months into office, the 18th District is ineligible for over $12 million in Community Project Funding, according to the Houston Chronicle. That’s money for flood control, food deserts, and infrastructure gone, simply because no one sits in that seat.

To make matters worse, Governor Greg Abbott delayed the special election until November 2025, leaving the district without representation for nearly a year.

So we ask:
Who pushed the paperwork?

Who said yes to the plan? Who let nostalgia override responsibility?

Was this political loyalty… or betrayal?

Because in the end, we didn’t just lose a man—we lost a seat, a vote, and our voice.