Kay Granger, a trailblazing Texas Republican, has died at the age of 83. Her son, JD Granger, confirmed her death on Sunday, stating that the cause was Alzheimer’s disease. Granger had recently decided not to seek re-election in 2024.
Throughout her nearly three decades of service in the U.S. House of Representatives, Granger broke significant barriers. She was the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in Congress and became the first woman from her party to chair the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
Prior to her tenure in Congress, Granger served as the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, Texas. House Speaker Mike Johnson noted that throughout her career, she broke barriers for women in public service.