Texas Trailblazer Remembered
Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, First Female Fort Worth Mayor and Texas Trailblazer, Dies at 83
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Key Points
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By the end of her tenure, Kay Granger was the most senior Republican member of Texas's congressional delegation.
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She announced in late 2023 that she would not seek reelection and stepped down from the chair of the House Appropriations Committee in early 2024.
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NBC Dallas-Fort Worth noted that Granger was the nation's longest-serving GOP congresswoman, first elected in 1996.
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Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker described Granger as a mentor and friend, with Parker having previously worked as a Granger aide.
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Conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss issued a statement praising Granger's life of service after her death.
Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger died Sunday at age 83, officials confirmed. She was the first Republican woman from Texas ever elected to the U.S. House, first winning her seat in 1996 and serving for nearly three decades, according to AP News.
Granger retired in January 2025 after extended absences and health challenges. Newsday reported she had been living in an independent living facility and was diagnosed with dementia late in her tenure. House Speaker Mike Johnson called her a trailblazer. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, once a Granger aide, described her as a mentor and close friend.
A String of Firsts That Defined Her Career
Granger broke barriers at every level of public life. She became Fort Worth's first female mayor before heading to Washington. In Congress, she became the first Republican woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, which controls federal spending, according to AP News.
She began her career as a high school teacher and businesswoman. By the end of her time in Congress, she was the most senior Republican member of Texas's entire congressional delegation. Boston Globe noted she held her seat for nearly 29 years — an extraordinary run for any lawmaker.
Nation's Longest-Serving GOP Congresswoman Steps Down
Granger announced in late 2023 that she would not seek reelection. She stepped down from her Appropriations Committee chairmanship in early 2024. Seattle PI noted she was the nation's longest-serving Republican congresswoman at the time of her retirement.
Reports of her health struggles emerged during her final year. She missed extended stretches of votes and public appearances. She officially left office in January 2025 when the new Congress was sworn in, ending a run that started with her 1996 election victory.
Fort Worth Mourns a Mentor and Political Pioneer
Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker was among the first to pay tribute. Parker had worked as a Granger aide earlier in her career. She called Granger a mentor and a devoted public servant. Conservative activist Leigh Wambsganss also issued a statement praising Granger's life of service, according to AP News.
House Speaker Mike Johnson echoed those words, calling Granger a trailblazer for women in public office. Her death drew tributes from across the political spectrum in Texas. She leaves behind a legacy that reshaped what was possible for women in both local and national politics.
Texas' 12th District Now Faces a New Era
Granger's retirement opened a rare vacancy in Texas' 12th Congressional District, a seat centered on Fort Worth. The district had been hers for nearly 30 years. Her departure signaled a major transition for one of Texas's most established Republican strongholds, according to Newsday.
Finding a successor to match Granger's seniority and influence will take time. She spent years building relationships and climbing to the top of the Appropriations Committee. That kind of institutional power is not easily replaced. Fort Worth now turns the page on a defining chapter of its political history.
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