Former US Rep. Kay Granger of Texas dies at 83
Why it matters: Granger broke multiple barriers, including leading the House Appropriations Committee and becoming Fort Worth's first female mayor.
Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, a Texas Republican who became the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, has died at 83. Her son, J.D. Granger, confirmed her death to Reuters. No cause was given. Granger had said in 2024 that she was dealing with unforeseen health challenges.
Granger represented her Fort Worth-area district in the House from 1997 to 2025 and did not seek re-election in 2024. During her final term, she led the chamber's powerful spending panel, which shapes federal funding bills. She also was the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth and the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the U.S. House.