Former U.S. Representative Kay Granger, a Republican who represented Texas's 12th Congressional District, died at 83. She served in the House for nearly three decades, from 1997 until her retirement in January 2025.
Speaker Mike Johnson confirmed Granger's death, remembering her as a "dear friend" who devoted her life to public service and "will be greatly missed."
Granger chaired the House Appropriations Committee from 2023 to 2024, giving her direct control over federal spending and budget allocations across government agencies. She was the first Republican woman to lead that committee and the first Republican woman elected to Congress from Texas.
Before her career in Washington, Granger served as Fort Worth's first female mayor.
