Mario Gallegos Jr., the first Hispanic state senator elected to represent a Harris County district, died Tuesday at age 62 following complications associated with his 2007 liver transplant.

Democratic consultant Harold Cook said that Gallegos was surrounded by family members and close friends when he passed away this afternoon at Houston's Methodist Hospital.

"The Senator's family is enormously grateful for the outpouring of support, thoughts, and prayers expressed during the last few days," Cook said in a prepared statement.

Gallegos served in the Legislature for more than 20 years, starting with his election to the House in 1991 ...

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