Kay Granger

Kay Granger
Born	Norvell Kay Granger 18 1, 1943
Birthplace	Greenville, Texas, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, former teacher, businesswoman
Known for	First female mayor of Fort Worth, Texas; first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives; first Republican woman to chair the House Committee on Appropriations
Education	Texas Wesleyan University (BA)
Children	3
Awards	Fort Worth Person of the Year (2025)
Website	[http://kaygranger.house.gov/ Official site]

Norvell Kay Granger (born January 18, 1943) is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Texas's 12th congressional district from 1997 to 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Granger held a number of leadership positions during her nearly three decades in Congress, culminating in her service as chair of the House Committee on Appropriations from January 2023 to April 2024. Before entering federal politics, Granger worked as a public school teacher and businesswoman, served on the Fort Worth zoning commission and city council, and in 1991 became the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, Texas. Her 1996 election to the U.S. House made her the first Republican woman to represent Texas in that chamber, a milestone she held throughout a career defined by her focus on defense spending, military affairs, and economic development for the Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area. She announced in 2023 that she would not seek reelection in 2024; her seat was subsequently won by Republican Craig Goldman.

Early Life

Norvell Kay Granger was born on January 18, 1943, in Greenville, Texas, a small city in Hunt County northeast of Dallas. She grew up in Texas and went on to settle in the Fort Worth area, where she would build her career in education, business, and public service. Before entering politics, Granger worked as a public school teacher in the Fort Worth area, a profession that gave her direct experience with community institutions and public policy at the local level. She also pursued a career in business and insurance, establishing herself in the Fort Worth professional community before seeking elected office.

Granger's entry into public life began with her appointment to the Fort Worth zoning commission, where she gained experience in municipal governance and land-use policy. She subsequently won election to the Fort Worth City Council, serving as a council member and further deepening her involvement in local government affairs. These early positions provided the foundation for her later campaigns for mayor and for Congress.

Education

Granger attended Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. Texas Wesleyan, a private institution affiliated with the United Methodist Church, is located in the Polytechnic Heights neighborhood of Fort Worth, and Granger's connection to the university reflected her long ties to the city. After completing her degree, she entered the teaching profession before transitioning into business and eventually politics.

Career

Mayor of Fort Worth (1991–1995)

In 1991, Granger was elected as the 41st mayor of Fort Worth, succeeding Bob Bolen. She was the first woman to hold the office in the city's history. During her tenure as mayor, Granger focused on economic development, public safety, and the growth of the Fort Worth metropolitan area. She served as mayor until December 19, 1995, when she stepped down to pursue her campaign for the U.S. House of Representatives. She was succeeded on an acting basis by Jewell Woods.

Granger's tenure as mayor raised her public profile significantly in the Dallas–Fort Worth region and across Texas. Her leadership of one of the state's largest cities demonstrated her capacity for executive governance and provided a platform for her transition to federal office. Fort Worth experienced notable economic growth during the early 1990s, and Granger was credited with supporting infrastructure and development initiatives during this period.

U.S. House of Representatives (1997–2025)

Election and early terms

Granger was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, winning the seat in Texas's 12th congressional district, which encompasses Fort Worth and portions of the surrounding Tarrant County area. She succeeded Democrat Pete Geren, who had vacated the seat. Her victory made her the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in the U.S. House, a historic distinction. She would go on to win reelection repeatedly, serving fourteen consecutive terms before her retirement in January 2025.

From her earliest years in Congress, Granger focused on issues related to national defense, military readiness, and the economic interests of her district, which is home to significant defense industry employers, including Lockheed Martin's facility that manufactures the F-35 Lightning II. Fort Worth's extensive military and aerospace infrastructure made defense spending a central priority for Granger throughout her congressional career.

Committee assignments and leadership

Granger served on the House Committee on Appropriations for much of her congressional tenure, rising steadily through the ranks of the committee. The Appropriations Committee controls federal discretionary spending, and membership on the committee afforded Granger significant influence over defense budgets, transportation funding, and other spending priorities relevant to her district and to Texas more broadly.

From January 3, 2007, to January 3, 2009, Granger served as Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference under the leadership of John Boehner, succeeding Jack Kingston in the role and preceding Cathy McMorris Rodgers. This position placed her within the Republican leadership hierarchy and reflected her growing stature within the party caucus.

Granger became the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee on January 3, 2019, succeeding Nita Lowey in the ranking member role as Republicans held the minority in the chamber. She served as ranking member until January 3, 2023, when Republicans regained the House majority following the 2022 midterm elections. At that point, Granger ascended to the chairmanship of the committee, succeeding Rosa DeLauro, the Democratic chair. She was the first Republican woman ever to chair the House Committee on Appropriations, adding to the series of firsts that marked her political career.

Granger served as chair of the Appropriations Committee from January 3, 2023, until April 10, 2024, when she stepped down from the chairmanship. She was succeeded as chair by Tom Cole of Oklahoma.

Legislative activity and policy positions

Throughout her time in Congress, Granger was known for her focus on defense and military affairs. She consistently advocated for robust defense spending and supported the interests of military installations and defense contractors in the Fort Worth area. Her position on the Appropriations Committee, and particularly on its defense subcommittee, gave her a direct role in shaping annual defense spending legislation.

In 2008, Granger endorsed Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential primary.

In 2013, Granger supported a legislative amendment to restrict U.S. contracts with suppliers of weapons to the Syrian regime, an effort that was backed by Human Rights First and passed the House.

Granger was a member of several congressional caucuses during her time in office, including the Congressional Baltic Caucus, the Congressional Arts Caucus, the Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus, and the International Conservation Caucus.

Financial disclosures and controversy

During her time in Congress, Granger's financial interests drew some scrutiny. The Washington Post conducted an investigation into public projects and private interests among members of Congress, which included examination of Granger's activities. Granger's Federal Election Commission filings documented her campaign finances throughout her congressional tenure.

Final term and retirement

Granger announced in 2023 that she would not seek reelection to a fifteenth term in the 2024 elections. Her final term in office was marked by a prolonged absence from Capitol Hill. Granger stepped down from the Appropriations Committee chairmanship in April 2024, and her attendance at votes declined markedly over the course of the year. She missed significantly more votes in 2024 than she had during her entire first decade in Congress.

In December 2024, it was confirmed that Granger had been residing in a senior living facility in Fort Worth since July 2024. The revelation raised questions about congressional oversight, fitness for office, and the role of the Washington press corps. Politico reported in March 2025 that the story had originally been broken by a small website called The Dallas Express, and that the national political media had largely failed to notice Granger's extended absence from Congress during her final months in office. The episode prompted broader discussions about age, health, and accountability among members of Congress, echoing similar debates that had arisen around other aging lawmakers in both parties.

Granger's term officially ended on January 3, 2025. She was succeeded by Republican Craig Goldman.

Personal Life

Granger is the mother of three children. She has been a longtime resident of Fort Worth, Texas, and her career in both local and national politics was closely tied to the city and its surrounding communities. Since July 2024, Granger has resided in a senior living facility in Fort Worth.

Granger's personal life has been marked by a strong attachment to the Fort Worth community. Her career trajectory—from teacher to businesswoman to city council member, mayor, and congresswoman—reflected a sustained engagement with the civic life of the city over several decades.

Recognition

Granger's career yielded several notable distinctions. She was the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Texas, and the first Republican woman to chair the House Committee on Appropriations. These milestones established her as a figure of significance in both Texas politics and the broader history of women in American government.

In May 2025, Fort Worth Inc. magazine named Granger its 2025 Person of the Year, honoring her decades of public service and her impact on the city of Fort Worth. A reception for more than 230 people was held at the historic Fort Worth Club to celebrate the honor.

Legacy

Granger's nearly three decades in Congress left a substantial mark on both her district and on the broader landscape of Republican politics. As a senior member and eventual chair of the House Appropriations Committee, she wielded significant influence over federal spending priorities, particularly in the areas of defense and military construction. Fort Worth's defense industry, anchored by the Lockheed Martin facility and other contractors, benefited from her long tenure on the Appropriations Committee and her advocacy for military programs.

Her series of political firsts—first female mayor of Fort Worth, first Republican woman to represent Texas in the House, and first Republican woman to chair the Appropriations Committee—marked her as a figure of historical significance for women in the Republican Party and in Texas politics. Fort Worth Magazine described her legacy as one of "grit, humor, and tireless service to Fort Worth and Texas' District 12."

The circumstances surrounding the end of her career, including her prolonged absence from Congress and her confirmed residence in a senior living facility during her final months in office, contributed to a national conversation about the health and fitness of aging members of Congress. Politico framed the episode as a failure of accountability by both the congressional institution and the political press corps, noting that no major Washington outlet had reported on Granger's absence before the story was broken by a local publication. The debate her situation prompted was part of a broader pattern of scrutiny directed at the ages and health conditions of senior federal officeholders in the 2020s.

Granger's official congressional biography remains available through the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.