Kay Granger (R-Texas), a trailblazing figure in American politics, died on Sunday, August 3, 2026, at the age of 83. Granger was the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee and was well-respected within the Republican Party.

Before her tenure in Congress, Granger served as the mayor of Fort Worth, Texas, elected in 1991 as the first woman to hold that role. She later became the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in the House.

Throughout her career, Granger also served as vice chairwoman of the House Republican Conference and co-chaired the Iraqi Women’s Caucus and the Women Impacting the Nation (WIN) coalition.

Granger announced her retirement from the House in 2023, stating that her final days in Congress would be spent working alongside then-newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) “to advance our conservative agenda.” Johnson reflected on her legacy, writing on X that “She was a dear friend who will be greatly missed.”

Prior to her political career, Granger was a single mother selling insurance from her home while caring for her elderly mother, a period she described as “complicated” but one that did not stop her from expanding her ambitions.

Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) praised Granger as a “titan” and “trailblazer” who served Fort Worth in multiple capacities, extending his condolences to her loved ones during this difficult time.

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