Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee has died

[LetMyPeopleVote]

Link to tweet

[UTUSN]

1. ...

[BigmanPigman]

2. I actually just gasped.

So sad!

[Solly Mack]

3. RIP

[newdeal2]

4. Terrible news

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. Oh no

RIP

[canetoad]

6. Wasn't there a pic of her

Riding a motorcycle, on DU just yesterday?

[MustLoveBeagles]

7. Yes

[PatSeg]

28. Yes, I remember commenting on it

This is such a shock.

[Deuxcents]

8. RIP Congresswoman, fighter for equality for all. 🕊️

[Bluethroughu]

9. RIP.

[blm]

10. 😢 🕯️

[Ohio Joe]

11. RIP

[Celerity]

12. RIP

[TBF]

13. Rest in Power, Ms. Lee.

She had just announced the pancreatic cancer last month - this is very sad and she will be hard to replace.

[MagickMuffin]

38. There was someone who was running for her seat

I believe this was because Rep Jackson Lee was running for Mayor of Houston. She lost that race and the gentleman running suspended his campaign and endorsed Jackson-Lee. His name is Isaiah Martin.


This news is heartbreaking. Sheila Jackson-Lee was One of a kind, but mentored those coming up the ranks! I will miss her!

[texasfiddler]

14. A Great Representative from our State. Rest in Peace.

[Ocelot II]

15. Aw, no! She was one of the good ones.

[hamsterjill]

16. The lights of the universe just dimmed.

Nothing but respect for this woman. May she rest in peace.

This sixth generation Texan gives her my thanks.

[Daveigh]

17. I am a native Houstonian. I can tell you she *loved* her city

What a tremendous loss.
May God surround her family during their pain and grief.
Cancer. Geez. Why can’t we get this beast (and pancreatic cancer specifically)?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

18. My oldest child was in middle school with Sheila's son.

I saw Sheila at a number of functions over the years. Sheila was the equivalent of a Jewish mother. Sheila would brag about her son and I would brag about my oldest child.

Sheila was a great person and will be missed. My oldest and I will be attending Sheila’s funeral

[Sunsky]

19. OMG

I can't... I just sent her endorsement of Biden to a friend of mine. May her family and loved ones be covered in this time of grief 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[mzmolly]

20. Such a loss.

Rest in power good lady.

[blogslug]

21. Goodbye, dear lady

damn

[cabotnn22]

22. RIP

I believe she had pancreatic cancer, which is one of the worst cancers to have. I wish her family peace during this time.

[LeftInTX]

24. Yes, she did.

[LeftInTX]

23. RIP

[TBF]

25. It's on the Chron's website now -

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/u-s-rep-sheila-jackson-lee-texas-died-cancer-19585364.php


Houston Democrat Sheila Jackson Lee, one of the longest-serving members in Congress and widely lauded as a social justice champion, died Friday months after announcing her diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. She was 74.

"A fierce champion of the people, she was affectionately and simply known as 'Congresswoman' by her constituents in recognition of her near-ubiquitous presence and service to their daily lives for more than 30 years," her family said in a statement.

[raging moderate]

26. Rest in Power, Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Thank you for your service.

[Hekate]

27. Oh, no! Cross gently, Congresswoman, and thank you for your service to the country.

[wryter2000]

29. What a loss for all of us

Condolences to her family. We will miss her.

[AllyCat]

30. Rest in peace brave and compassionate woman.

[58Sunliner]

31. What a loss. She will be missed.

[Tarheel_Dem]

32. RIP my sister!

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

33. RIP

[BWdem4life]

34. Death keeps missing.

[AmBlue]

35. Rest In Power

[Demovictory9]

36. RIP

[peggysue2]

37. Devastating news

Made me catch my breath.

Pancreatic cancer, one of the worst. I hope her suffering was short and her passing gentle.

Sad day.

[townie]

39. Sorry to hear; did not know she was sick

[MagickMuffin]

40. This is such a shock

Her last tweet was “The time has come to unite behind the President and get to work beating Donald Trump - one last time.

Followed by Minority Leader Jeffries statement that Biden is the nominee.


🕯️🌹❤️ 🙏

[chowder66]

41. This is such sad news. R.I.P.

[ancianita]

42. Terrible and sad. What a great light.

[Nululu]

43. RIP to a great American

Trailblazer and hero, one of a kind.

[jmbar2]

44. Just saw the news. We've lost a Queen

I'm originally from Houston. Sheila Jackson Lee is a legend, and never quit working to make life better for the common folks.

She spent her last hours of precious life standing up for Joe.

I pray her passing was as peaceful as possible under the circumstances. She will be remembered by generations.

[Swede]

45. RIP

I always liked her.

[dlk]

46. The two Sheilas

Condolences to the Jackson Lee family.

A dear friend, who has also passed away, was some years ago very active with the Democratic Party in Houston. They were called the two Shelias, Jackson Lee and my friend.

I hope they’ve been reunited.

[jmbar2]

47. Lovely portrait of Sheila Jackson Lee

Link to tweet

[niyad]

48. Rest in power, my sister.

[Tweedy]

49. Rest in peace

[OMGWTF]

50. Does Greg Abbott name her successor until the next election?

Yikes!

[LetMyPeopleVote]

53. No

A Governor can only do that for US Senators. Under Texas election law, the party has until August 23 to name a replacement candidate. In theory, Greg Abbott could cal a special election for the period between the Nov. election and the. January 3 start of the new Congress

[mahina]

51. There goes a great soul

[sueh]

52. RIP Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.

Thank you for everything you've done for us.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

54. What happens next to Sheila Jackson Lee's seat in Congress?

The party can replace Sheila for the upcoming general election. The issue will be if Greg schedules a special election to cover the balance of Sheila's term ending January 3, 2025.

Link to tweet

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/sheila-jackson-lee-congress-seat-19585390.php

Under state law, the Harris County Democratic Party’s executive committee will have until Aug. 26 to nominate a candidate to run in the Nov. 5 general election.

If the committee does not choose a candidate in time, then the Texas Democratic Party would have two days, or until Aug. 28, to make the choice.

Chad Dunn, a lawyer for the Texas Democratic Party, said state party rules advise that, if possible, there should be at least 10 days from the creation of the vacancy before a meeting is called.

County executive committees will sometimes create an informal filing period, or they may create a survey for candidates to fill out, or they may notice the meeting and ask the candidates to show up in person and make their pitch in front of the committee, Dunn said.

Gov. Greg Abbott has the authority to call a special election to fill the vacancy through the remainder of Jackson Lee’s two-year term, which is up in January. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Once Abbott calls a special election, the law requires him to schedule it within about two months if it will be held as an emergency election. State law does not set a deadline for Abbott to make the initial announcement.....

The last time a situation like this arose was in 1968 when Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe R. Pool died in July, also about six months before his term ended. In that case, the governor did call a special election for about a month later.

I am betting that Greg will not call a special election

[LetMyPeopleVote]

55. Let's honor Congresswoman Sheila Jackson's last wishes.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet