Former Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, died on Sunday at the age of 83, with her ex-colleagues remembering her as a trailblazer who broke barriers for women.
Granger was the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, as well as the first Republican woman from the Lone Star State elected to the U.S. House of Representatives and the first female Republican appropriations chair.
Granger, who served on Capitol Hill for 28 years and chaired the House Appropriations Committee, was 83.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., announced Granger’s death on X, calling her “a dear friend who will be greatly missed.” “Throughout her career, she broke barriers for women in public service. She was the first woman to serve as Mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee,” Johnson wrote.
She served as the first female mayor of Fort Worth between 1991 and 1995. Granger took the seat in 1997 and went on to serve Texas’ 12th Congressional District for nearly three decades.
“What a lady, and the end of an era in political service,” Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said in a Facebook post honoring Granger. Parker, who once worked for Granger, described her as a trailblazer and tenacious leader.
Born in Greenville on January 18, 1943, Granger graduated from Eastern Hills High School in 1961 and earned a degree from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965. She worked as a teacher and business owner before entering public service.
Her path to Congress began locally.
Her path into politics began with a neighborhood fight over a proposed liquid-waste processing plant near her East Fort Worth home. She served on the Zoning Commission of Fort Worth, Texas, from 1981 to 1989, and on the Fort Worth City Council from 1989 to 1991.
On the national stage, Granger rose quickly through the ranks.
Granger spent 25 years on the House Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers decide how the federal government spends taxpayer money. She became the committee’s ranking Republican in 2019 and its chairwoman in January 2023. Granger stepped down as chair in April 2024 and remained chairwoman emeritus through the end of her term.
Her former chief of staff celebrated her legacy on social media.
“She broke every barrier put in front of her and never made a show of it — she just went to work,” Cole Rojewski wrote. “Serving as her chief of staff was the honor of my career. She accomplished more in one life than most of us would in three.”
Republicans and Democrats alike mourned her passing.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., called her an “Iron Lady,” adding on X, “I’m grateful to have called her a friend.” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said Granger “lived a life of historic firsts.” “For nearly three decades, she championed North Texas, our Armed Forces, and a strong national defense,” Cruz wrote.
Across the aisle, colleagues offered their tributes.
House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., said she was “deeply saddened” by her passing, saying the former GOP lawmaker “devoted her life to serving the people of Texas and our nation with integrity, determination, and a profound sense of duty.” DeLauro said: “Throughout our years serving together on the Appropriations Committee, we worked through difficult challenges with mutual respect and honesty,” adding that “Congresswoman Granger was the first woman to sit on and serve as chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. She was the first Republican woman to lead the full Appropriations Committee, and with our counterparts Senators Patty Murray and Susan Collins, was part of the first Committee led on all four corners by women.”
Her successor in Congress also paid respect.
“Texas has lost a legend and I am deeply saddened by this news,” said Rep. Craig Goldman. “Kay Granger transformed the city she loved. Across her many decades of service to the Fort Worth community and all of CD TX-12, she worked tirelessly to improve the lives of those she represented.”
Former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price reflected on her impact.
“She set an extraordinarily high standard for women in public service and stood as a true Texas trailblazer. She was a force to be reckoned with — principled, determined, and among the most dedicated public servants I have known,” Price said.
Those who knew her well remembered her quiet determination.
Bill Meadows, a former city council member, recalled Kay Granger as someone who rolled up her sleeves, quietly got stuff done and painted a new vision for Fort Worth. Whether as mayor or a member of Congress, Granger looked for — and often came up with — solutions to problems facing her home. “Kay was never seeking attention or recognition. She just worked,” Meadows said.
In the viral moment that ended her congressional career, serious health challenges forced Granger to step back from her duties after a decades-long service record. After serving in the U.S. House from 1997, Granger retired in January of last year following health challenges and extended absences from Washington. “As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year,” she said in December 2024. “However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable. During this time, my incredible staff has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver exceptional constituent services, as they have for the past 27 years.” Granger had not cast a House vote since July 24, 2024, and was living at a senior living facility in Fort Worth. Her son later confirmed that she was a resident and said she had experienced dementia issues.
Recent honors recognized her lifetime of work.
Fort Worth Inc. named Granger its 2025 Person of the Year in recognition of her influence on the city’s development, business community and national standing. At her November 2024 portrait ceremony, Granger reflected on her career.
“As my time in Congress comes to an end, I feel fulfilled and depart with optimism that this chamber will continue to serve the best interests of the American people,” Granger said.