FORT WORTH, Texas — Former U.S. Rep. Kay Granger, a longtime Texas Republican who made history in local and national government, has died at 83, bringing an end to a political career that spanned nearly three decades in Congress and included leadership of the influential House Appropriations Committee.
Granger, who represented Texas’ 12th Congressional District from 1997 through 2025, died on August 2, according to the U.S. House Office of the Historian. Her career included several milestones, including becoming Fort Worth’s first female mayor and the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2023, she reached another historic achievement when she became the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, placing her at the center of congressional decisions over federal spending.
Her journey from local government in Fort Worth to one of the most influential positions in Congress reflected decades of public service, political involvement and work on national budget priorities.
From Fort Worth Roots to Public Office
Born on January 18, 1943, in Greenville, Texas, Granger grew up in Fort Worth, the city that would become the foundation of her political career.
She graduated from Eastern Hills High School before earning a bachelor’s degree from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965. Before entering politics, she worked as a teacher and later became a business owner, experiences that preceded her move into public service.
Granger began building her political profile through local government. She served on Fort Worth’s Zoning Commission from 1981 to 1989 before joining the City Council in 1989.
In 1991, she was elected mayor, becoming the first woman to hold the office in the city’s history. She served until 1995, establishing a place in Fort Worth’s political landscape before turning her attention to national office.
Her congressional breakthrough came in 1996, when she won election to represent Texas’ 12th District. She took office in January 1997 and went on to serve 14 consecutive terms.
Granger announced that she would not seek reelection in 2024 and left Congress when her term ended in January 2025.
A Major Role in Federal Spending
One of the defining chapters of Granger’s congressional career was her lengthy service on the House Appropriations Committee, which oversees legislation allocating federal funding to government departments, agencies and programs.
She joined the committee in 1999 and spent approximately 25 years working on appropriations matters. Over time, she served on several subcommittees and rose through the committee’s Republican leadership.
Her appointment as chairwoman in January 2023 marked a significant milestone for women in the Republican Party. The position gave her a leading role in negotiations over federal spending priorities, including national defense, domestic programs and government operations.
The committee’s work often requires lawmakers to balance competing demands, negotiate funding levels and respond to changing national priorities. As chairwoman, Granger helped oversee a process central to Congress’ constitutional authority over federal expenditures.
Her leadership placed her among the lawmakers responsible for shaping spending legislation and negotiating differences over how taxpayer money should be allocated.
National Defense and North Texas Priorities
Defense funding was another major focus of Granger’s congressional work. She chaired the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee during the 115th Congress, overseeing a portfolio involving military spending and national security priorities.
Her district included major defense-related interests and military facilities, making defense policy particularly relevant to her work on Capitol Hill.
Throughout her tenure, Granger participated in congressional decisions involving resources for the armed forces and broader defense requirements. Her position on appropriations gave her a role in debates over funding levels, military readiness and the allocation of resources across defense programs.
The committee’s responsibilities extended well beyond defense, however, encompassing a broad range of federal agencies and government functions. Granger’s leadership required engagement with the competing interests of lawmakers, executive-branch officials and the communities affected by federal spending decisions.
A Lasting Place in Texas Political History
Granger’s career carried significance beyond the policies she helped oversee. Her election as Fort Worth’s first female mayor marked a milestone in the city’s political history, while her election to Congress made her the first Republican woman from Texas to serve in the House.
Her rise to chair the Appropriations Committee added another chapter to that record, establishing her as a prominent figure in a powerful congressional institution.
In November 2024, colleagues and congressional staff honored her career with a portrait unveiling at the House Appropriations Committee. The event recognized her years of service representing Texas’ 12th District and her leadership of the committee.
Her departure from Congress in January 2025 closed a career that began in municipal government and ultimately reached the highest levels of congressional budget leadership.
Remembering Nearly Three Decades of Service
Granger’s political legacy is closely tied to the institutions she served: Fort Worth City Hall, the U.S. House of Representatives and the House Appropriations Committee.
She represented her district through numerous changes in national politics and served under multiple congressional leadership teams. Her work on appropriations placed her in a central position in discussions over how federal resources were distributed, while her local-government career gave her a lasting connection to Fort Worth.
Her death marks the passing of a longtime public official whose career helped shape both local and national political life. For Fort Worth, Texas and the House Appropriations Committee, Granger will be remembered for the historic barriers she broke and the years she devoted to elected office.
Her path from a Fort Worth educator and business owner to a congressional committee chair remains a defining part of her public record.
