Kay Granger, the trailblazing Texas Republican who broke barriers for women in public service as Fort Worth’s first female mayor and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, died Sunday at the age of 83, according to her family and congressional officials.
Kay Granger built a nearly three-decade career in Washington on a foundation of local municipal reform and legislative grit. House of Representatives in 1996, she represented Texas’ 12th Congressional District until her retirement in January 2025. Her path to Capitol Hill followed a winding professional journey that began in the classroom and the insurance sector before taking her to Fort Worth’s municipal government.
From High School Teacher to Fort Worth Trailblazer
Born and educated in Texas—she graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965—Granger initially followed her mother into education, teaching English literature and journalism in the Birdville school district for nine years. A sudden divorce upended her family life, prompting a high-stakes pivot to business. Working from home while caring for young children and her mother, Granger built an independent insurance agency that she managed for more than two decades.
“I was a high school teacher with three children, a 2-year and 6-month-old twins, and my husband left. It’s the reason I talk so much to working mothers … you just fight your way through the day.”
Kay Granger, via The Hill profile cited by AP News
That resilience propelled her into local politics. She served on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission and the City Council before winning election as the city’s first female mayor, serving from 1991 to 1995. Her municipal tenure earned national acclaim for her Code: Blue initiatives, which combined citizen patrols with private-sector partnerships to slash crime and revitalize Fort Worth’s flagging economic fortunes, apnews.com.
Historic Firsts and Defense Priorities in the House
Recruited by both political parties to run for Congress, Granger won her House seat as a Republican in 1996 and took office on January 3, 1997.
Trailblazing former Republican Rep Kay Granger dies at 83: 'Broke barrier#News #BreakingNews #Shorts
On the appropriations panel, Granger carved out a niche as a fierce defender of national security and the U.S. Armed Forces. She used her position to champion defense manufacturing, most notably the production of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in Fort Worth, apnews.com. When Republicans reclaimed the House majority in 2023, Granger assumed the committee’s chairmanship, placing her at the center of high-stakes federal spending negotiations.
During her tenure as chair, she navigated intense fiscal showdowns, pushing for steeper non-defense spending cuts than the top-line figures agreed upon by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and President Joe Biden to avert a government default. Her legislative footprint made her the first Republican woman to lead the budget panel, though two Democrats, Representatives Nita Lowey and Rosa DeLauro, had previously held the gavel.
Final Term and Tributes From Capitol Hill
Granger announced in 2023 that she would not seek re-election. In her final months in office, she faced escalating medical hurdles. She missed votes in Washington beginning in July 2024 and issued a statement in December 2024 detailing her situation.
Photo: NBC News
“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year. 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.”
Photo: cbsnews.com
Kay Granger, statement released by her congressional office
Following her retirement in January 2025, she resided in an assisted living and independent living facility. Her son, J.D. Granger, confirmed her passing to Reuters and noted to local media outlets late last year that she had been navigating dementia issues.
Lawmakers from across the political aisle paid tribute to her legacy. House Speaker Mike Johnson remembered her on social media as a dear friend who will be greatly missed, while House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., praised her steady leadership and deep belief in congressional responsibility. Texas Senator Ted Cruz observed that Granger lived a life of historic firsts, championing North Texas and a robust national defense for nearly three decades.
