Former Houston Mayor and Democratic Texas Rep. Sylvester Turner passed away at age 70, officials confirmed Wednesday. 

Houston Mayor John Whitmire confirmed Turner's death during a city council meeting. 

According to Whitmire, Turner was in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday night and had to be taken to the hospital where he later died.

As of now it is not known how he died, but he has battled cancer in the past, according to a local Fox News outlet.

Turner was elected to serve the 18th district of Texas in November. Prior to that, he served as a Texas state representative for over two decades. 

He also served as the mayor of Houston for eight years.