Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a long-serving Democrat from Texas, has died at age 74

Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert
·2 min read
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  • Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a long-serving Texas Democrat, died at age 74, her family announced.

  • Lee announced last month she had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

  • She served as representative for Texas's 18th congressional district since 1995.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a long-serving Democratic congresswoman from Texas, died at the age of 74, her family announced Friday.

"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," read a statement posted by the family on X.

Lee had served as the representative for Texas's 18th congressional district since 1995 and was a vocal anti-racism advocate and proponent of women's rights.

"Her legislative victories impacted millions, from establishing the Juneteenth Federal Holiday to reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. However, she impacted us most as our beloved wife, sister, mother, and Bebe (grandmother). She will be dearly missed, but her legacy will continue to inspire all who believe in freedom, justice, and democracy."

In a statement last month, Lee announced in a post on social media that she had been fighting a pancreatic cancer diagnosis.

"Please keep me and my family in your prayers as you have always done. Know that you will remain in mine," she wrote in the announcement. "As always, God bless you and God bless the United States of America."

"I have never known a harder-working political leader than Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, who studied every bill and every amendment with exactitude and then told Texas and America exactly where she stood," Maryland Rep. Jamie Raskin said in a memorial post for the congresswoman.

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer described Lee's passing as a "tremendous loss," writing in a post on X that she "fought so hard throughout her life to make our country a better place for all."

"May her memory be a blessing," Schumer added.

Representatives for Lee's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.

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