Kay Granger, the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, has died at age 83.
Her son, J.D. Granger, confirmed her death Sunday. A cause was not immediately disclosed, though Granger had faced health challenges in recent months, and her family later revealed that dementia-related issues kept her away from Washington for much of 2024.
A Political Trailblazer
Granger represented Texas’s 12th District for 28 years, from 1997 until her retirement in January 2025. Born Norvell Kay Granger on January 18, 1943, in Greenville, Texas, she worked as a high school teacher and built a successful insurance business before entering politics.
She broke multiple barriers throughout her career: the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth in 1991, the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas in 1996, and the first Republican woman to lead the House Appropriations Committee in 2023.
Before reaching Congress, Granger served on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission from 1981 to 1989 and later on the City Council.
Congressional Legacy
In Washington, Granger spent 25 years on the House Appropriations Committee, becoming the first woman to chair its Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. She became a leading advocate for the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet program produced by Lockheed Martin in her district.
She stepped down from the chairmanship in April 2024 and announced in 2023 that she would not seek reelection, saying she wanted to complete her final term while serving constituents.
Tributes From Colleagues
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., called Granger a close friend and praised her lifetime of service. “Kay Granger devoted her life to serving her Fort Worth, Texas community – as a teacher and businesswoman, on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission and City Council, as Mayor, and in Congress for nearly three decades,” Johnson wrote on X.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, described Granger as a leader who dedicated decades to North Texas and national defense. “For nearly three decades, she championed North Texas, our Armed Forces, and a strong national defense,” Cruz said.
Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Texas, who succeeded Granger in the 12th Congressional District, called her a legend. “Kay will be greatly missed, but her incredible legacy will not be forgotten,” Goldman said.