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Kay Granger, Texas trailblazer and former congresswoman, dies at 83

Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, the first woman to serve as Fort Worth mayor and the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas, has died at 83. Officials confirmed the news Sunday night, drawing tributes from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.

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Kay Granger, Texas trailblazer and former congresswoman, dies at 83

Kay Granger, Texas trailblazer and former congresswoman, dies at 83

The short answer

Kay Granger was a pioneering Texas Republican who spent 28 years in the U.S. House representing Fort Worth and Texas' 12th Congressional District. Born in Greenville in 1943, she graduated from Eastern Hills High School and Texas Wesleyan University, then worked as a teacher and business owner before entering public service. She became the first woman to serve as Fort Worth's mayor, then the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas, and later the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee. Granger died at 83, with officials announcing the news Sunday night. Her death came after a final term marked by health challenges and dementia; her office acknowledged 'unforeseen health challenges' that made travel to Washington unpredictable, and her son told the Dallas Morning News she was having 'some dementia issues.' She retired in January 2025 after serving since January 1997. Tributes from House Speaker Mike Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker underscored her legacy as a trailblazer who opened doors for women in public service. Johnson said she broke barriers 'throughout her career,' and Parker, who called Granger a mentor, noted the 'end of an era in political service.'

Why it's trending

Kay Granger's death was reported Sunday night, with her family confirming the news through CBS News. The sudden announcement, combined with Granger's status as a landmark figure in Texas politics and the recent public discussion of her dementia diagnosis, drove search interest as people sought to understand her life and legacy.

Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, a North Texas Republican who made history as Fort Worth's first female mayor, has died at 83, officials said Sunday night. CBS News reported that Granger's son and a spokeswoman confirmed she was living in an independent living facility. Granger represented Texas' 12th Congressional District for 28 years, from 1997 to 2025.

Multiple outlets confirmed the news, including WFAA and The Dallas Express, which noted her rise from local politics to chair of the House Appropriations Committee. House Speaker Mike Johnson called her a barrier-breaker 'in public service,' and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said she was a 'trailblazer and tenacious leader' and a mentor. The Dallas Express added that she was the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas and the first Republican woman to chair the Appropriations Committee.

Granger's political career began with a neighborhood fight over a proposed liquid-waste facility, according to The Dallas Express. She served on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission and City Council before becoming mayor. In Congress, she served nearly three decades, but her final term was shadowed by health issues. Her office disclosed 'unforeseen health challenges' that made travel to Washington unpredictable, and her son later told the Dallas Morning News she had 'some dementia issues,' as reported by CBS News.

Granger's death marks a milestone: the end of an era for Texas Republican women in federal office. She was a mentor to current Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, who noted 'the end of an era in political service.' As tributes continue to arrive, her legacy is likely to be framed around the barriers she broke for women in both city and national politics. No further details on funeral arrangements were immediately released.

Timeline

  1. Kay Granger born in Greenville

    Granger was born in Greenville, Texas, according to The Dallas Express.

  2. Education in Fort Worth

    She graduated from Eastern Hills High School in 1961 and earned a degree from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965, per The Dallas Express.

  3. Enters U.S. House

    Granger begins representing Texas' 12th Congressional District, serving for 28 years until January 2025, as reported by CBS News and The Dallas Express.

  4. Health challenges disclosed

    Granger's office releases statement about 'unforeseen health challenges' making travel to Washington difficult; her son later tells the Dallas Morning News she had 'some dementia issues,' CBS News reported.

  5. Retires from Congress

    Granger completes her final term and retires, ending nearly three decades in office.

  6. Death announced at 83

    Officials and family confirm that Granger died; House Speaker Mike Johnson and Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker release statements.

Questions people ask

Who was Kay Granger?

Kay Granger was a Republican congresswoman from Texas who served in the U.S. House from 1997 to 2025. She was the first woman to serve as Fort Worth's mayor, the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas, and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, according to CBS News and The Dallas Express.

How did Kay Granger die?

Officials and her family said she died Sunday night at age 83, but they did not release a cause of death. CBS News reported that she had been grappling with health challenges and dementia in her final years; her son told the Dallas Morning News she was 'having some dementia issues late in the…' and she lived in an independent living facility.

What did Kay Granger accomplish?

Granger was Fort Worth's first female mayor, served in Congress for nearly three decades, and rose to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee. She was also the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Texas, as noted by House Speaker Mike Johnson and multiple news outlets.

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