Former U.S. Representative Kay Granger of Fort Worth has passed away at the age of 83, as confirmed by U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson in a social media post on Sunday.
Granger made history as the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in Congress. She began her tenure in 1997 and dedicated nearly three decades to serving Texas’ 12th Congressional District. By the end of her career, she had become the most senior Republican in the state’s congressional delegation and ascended to the influential role of chair of the House Appropriations Committee.
In late 2023, Granger announced her decision not to run for reelection and stepped down from her position as appropriations committee chair in early 2024. She subsequently missed several votes before revealing that she was battling health issues.
“Kelly and I send our prayers to her family, loved ones, and the Fort Worth community as we remember her extraordinary life of service and lasting legacy,” Johnson expressed in his post on X. “She was a dear friend who will be greatly missed.”
Before her groundbreaking congressional career, Granger served as the first female mayor of Fort Worth from 1991 to 1995, leaving a significant impact on local governance.
In a tribute on Facebook, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker referred to Granger as a “trailblazer and tenacious leader,” emphasizing her role as both a mentor and a friend. “What a lady, and the end of an era in political service,” Parker remarked.
