As the nation's fourth-largest city and by some metrics, its most diverse, Houston has long been a leader in progressive politics. Now, the city’s mayor, Sylvester Turner, is part of a unique history-making club. Alongside New York City’s Eric Adams, Chicago’s Lori Lightfoot, and Los Angeles’ Karen Bass (who also has the distinction of being the first woman to lead LA) it marks the first time the nation’s four largest cities have been led by Black mayors. At least for one more year, as Turner is closing in on his final year in office. 

CBS Morning News sat down with three of the four mayors, who collectively, are responsible for leading 20 million people, and spoke to them about the greatest challenges they each face and what this history-making moment means. "It does demonstrate just how far we have come," Turned said. "When you look at African-Americans that are running cities across the country, progress is being made, but it hasn't been easy. It's one thing to get there, but another thing to stay there."

For the first time in history, the four biggest U.S. cities are led by Black mayors.@NYCMayor, @MayorOfLA and @SylvesterTurner told @CBSMMiller about some of the biggest challenges facing their cities, including homelessness, a growing migrant crisis and deadly weather events. pic.twitter.com/yS0M6UZa6c

— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) January 23, 2023

The milestone isn't taken lightly by any of the leaders, but for Turner, the longest-tenured mayor of the group, being the mayor of Houston, he said, has been an esteemed honor. A Houstonian through and through, Turner grew up in the Acres Homes community of North Houston, earned a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Houston, and is just Houston’s second-ever African-American mayor, following Lee Brown, who was elected in 1997. 

“African Americans who have been in their communities [that] have been overlooked, whether it’s been a lack of investment for decades, they want to see things happen very quickly,” Turner said in an interview with Politico. “They don’t give African Americans, you know, a long runway.”

Across the board, the mayors say they are grappling with immigration, which has become a hot-button issue in recent months. In August, Texas Governor Gregg Abbott bused 40,000 immigrants to New York City. 

Additionally, addressing climate change has become an immediate concern. Houston and Los Angeles have seen severe weather within the last year. Both cities are working to mitigate damages, especially to those in lower-income communities. Houston alone has faced seven federally declared disasters in the previous seven years, which affects "people in our vulnerable, marginalized communities," Turned said.  

Though Turner is Houston's outgoing mayor, the campaign trail is well underway for its next leader. Five candidates are vying for the mayor's seat, but so far Mayor Turner has stayed mum on who he’ll be endorsing.

For the complete list of candidates, read our article on who's running for mayor.