Kay Granger, pioneering Texas Republican, dies at 83

Former U.S. Representative Kay Granger died on Sunday at age 83. A Texas Republican, she served the 12th congressional district from 1997 until her retirement in 2025. Granger was the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Texas, the first woman mayor of Fort Worth (1991‑1995), and the first Republican woman to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee, a role she held for more than a year. She was known for steering defense‑spending projects that benefited the North Texas aerospace and defense sector. In 2023 she announced she would not seek re‑election and stepped down as committee chair in early 2024, later citing “unforeseen health challenges” and limited ability to travel to Washington. House Speaker Mike Johnson called her a “trailblazer” who broke barriers for women, and Democratic Appropriations Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro praised her steady leadership. Colleagues in Fort Worth, including Mayor Mattie Parker, remembered her as a mentor and tenacious public servant.