Sheila Jackson Lee Obituary

Sheila Jackson Lee was an American lawyer and politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas’s 18th congressional district from 1995 until she died in 2024. Representing most of central Houston, she was a dedicated member of the Democratic Party and co-dean of Texas’s congressional delegation. Before her tenure in Congress, Jackson Lee served as an at-large member of the Houston City Council.

Born in Queens, New York, Jackson Lee earned a scholarship for Black students at New York University. She later transferred and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in political science from Yale University in 1972 and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1975. After moving to Houston in 1987, Kathy Whitmire appointed her as a municipal judge for the city. In 1989, Jackson Lee was elected to the Houston City Council, where she served until 1994. She then launched a campaign for Congress, defeating incumbent Craig Washington in the Democratic primary and easily winning the general election.

During her congressional career, Jackson Lee was a staunch supporter of progressive policies. She introduced the Essential Transportation Worker Identification Credential Assessment Act in 2013 and the Sabika Sheikh Firearm Licensing and Registration Act in 2021. In 2019, she stepped down as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation and from a subcommittee in the House Judiciary after a lawsuit filed by a former staffer claimed she was fired due to planned legal action against an alleged rape by a supervisor.

In March 2023, Jackson Lee announced her candidacy for the Houston mayoral election. In the first round, she placed second behind state Senator John Whitmire. However, since no candidate crossed the 50% threshold to win outright, a runoff election was held on December 9, 2023. Despite receiving several key endorsements, Jackson Lee lost the election to Whitmire. Undeterred, she filed to run for re-election to her congressional seat on December 11 and won the Democratic primary on March 5, 2024.

Sheila Jackson Lee’s illustrious career was cut short when she succumbed to pancreatic cancer in July 2024. Her legacy as a fierce advocate for her constituents and a trailblazer for Black Americans in politics will be remembered and cherished by many.