Kay Granger, the pioneering Texas Republican who served in Congress for nearly three decades and became the first female chair of the House Appropriations Committee, died Sunday at 83.
Speaker Mike Johnson announced her death on X, describing Granger as a "dear friend who will be greatly missed." Her passing marks the loss of one of the Republican Party's most prominent women in legislative history.
Granger represented Texas's 12th District beginning in 1997, making her one of the early female Republican voices in Congress during an era when women held far fewer seats. Her rise to chair the Appropriations Committee in 2023 represented a watershed moment for female representation in House leadership. The committee controls federal spending and ranks among the most powerful in Congress.
Before entering national politics, Granger served as Fort Worth's mayor from 1991 to 1997, establishing herself as a skilled administrator at the local level. Her transition to Congress reflected a broader political trend in Texas, where Republican strength grew substantially during the 1990s.
Granger's legislative record centered on defense spending and foreign policy. As Appropriations Chair, she wielded significant influence over the Pentagon budget and military aid to allied nations. Her committee work shaped billions in federal spending across defense, domestic programs, and international affairs.
Her death comes as House Republicans navigate a period of internal division and leadership changes. Johnson took the speakership in October 2023 after a prolonged battle within the conference, eventually securing support from various factions of the GOP.
Granger's tenure in Congress spanned major shifts in American politics, from the post-Cold War era through the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the 2008 financial crisis, and the Trump and Biden administrations. She announced her retirement plans in 2022, choosing to step down rather than seek reelection in 2024.
Her legacy centers on