Kay Granger, the Fort Worth Republican who spent nearly three decades in Congress and became the first woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee, died Sunday at age 83, drawing tributes from leaders in both parties.

Granger carved a path through Texas politics that no Republican woman before her had walked. She was the first woman elected mayor of Fort Worth, the first Republican woman from Texas sent to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first Republican woman to lead the powerful Appropriations Committee, the panel that controls federal spending. Fox News reported that colleagues on both sides of the aisle remembered her as a barrier-breaker whose influence shaped a generation of Republican women in public life.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., issued a statement honoring Granger's career and her deep roots in the Fort Worth community.

"Kay Granger devoted her life to serving her Fort Worth, Texas community, as a teacher and businesswoman, on the Fort Worth Zoning Commission and City Council, as Mayor, and in Congress for nearly three decades, where she also served as Chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee. Throughout her career, she broke barriers for women in public service."

Johnson added that Granger "was a dear friend who will be greatly missed," sending prayers from himself and Kelly to her family and the Fort Worth community.

From Fort Worth City Hall to the Appropriations gavel

Granger won her first House race in 1996 and took office in January 1997, representing Texas' 12th Congressional District. Over the next 28 years she climbed through the ranks of the Appropriations Committee, first as a subcommittee chair, then as the leader of the full panel. Newsmax reported that she served the district for the entirety of that stretch, a tenure that spanned administrations and shifting congressional majorities.

Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., the current ranking member on the Appropriations Committee, offered a detailed tribute that underscored the historic nature of Granger's rise. DeLauro noted that Granger was the first woman to sit on and serve as chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, the panel that directs military spending, and that she was the first Republican woman to lead the full committee.

DeLauro also pointed to a milestone the two women shared with Sens. Patty Murray and Susan Collins: together, they formed the first Appropriations Committee led on all four corners, House and Senate, both parties, by women.

"Throughout our years serving together on the Appropriations Committee, we worked through difficult challenges with mutual respect and honesty."

DeLauro said Granger "devoted her life to serving the people of Texas and our nation with integrity, determination, and a profound sense of duty," and that she earned respect from members on both sides of the aisle through steady leadership. That kind of bipartisan acknowledgment is rare in today's Congress, where legislative fights over major bills routinely turn bitter.

Health challenges forced Granger from Washington before her term ended

Granger's final months in office were marked by declining health that kept her away from Capitol Hill. She had not cast a vote in the House after July 24, 2024, the Washington Examiner reported, and she chose not to seek reelection in the 2024 cycle.

In December 2024, Granger issued a public statement acknowledging her condition for the first time.

"As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year. However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable."

She praised her staff for continuing to deliver constituent services during her absence, noting they had served the district faithfully "for the past 27 years." Granger retired from the House in January 2025.

Breitbart reported that Granger had been placed in an assisted living facility for dementia patients before her death. The outlet also quoted a separate statement from Granger reflecting on her career: "It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the city of Fort Worth, as a city council member, as mayor, and as a Member of Congress."

The specific cause of death was not disclosed. No family statement detailing the circumstances has been made public.

Rep. McClain called Granger 'a pioneer' who opened doors for Republican women

Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., chair of the House Republican Caucus, said Granger "was a pioneer, a dedicated public servant, and a trailblazing leader who opened doors for generations of Republican women to follow." McClain added that Granger's "impact on Congress and our Nation will not be forgotten."

That legacy carries particular weight as the Republican Party navigates a shifting political landscape. Recent midterm polling has shown the party facing headwinds, and Granger's brand of pragmatic, committee-driven governance represents a model that some in the GOP believe the party needs more of, not less.

Granger's seat in Texas' 12th Congressional District remained in Republican hands after her retirement. But the broader political map in Texas has grown more competitive. A recent Texas Senate poll showed a Democrat opening a lead in a race that Republicans once considered safe ground, a reminder that the state Granger helped define for the GOP is no longer a given.

First elected to the House at a time when Republican women from Texas were virtually nonexistent in Congress, Granger built a career on appropriations work, the unglamorous, detail-heavy business of deciding where federal dollars go. She did not chase cable-news fame. She chased gavels, and she got them.

The Associated Press confirmed that Granger was first elected in 1996 and served nearly three decades before stepping aside. Her career spanned an era in which the number of Republican women in Congress grew from a handful to a caucus, a shift she helped make possible by proving the path existed.

As the party looks ahead to future leadership contests and internal debates over direction, Granger's record stands as a straightforward example of what conservative governance looks like when it focuses on results over rhetoric.

Washington has no shortage of politicians who talk about breaking barriers. Kay Granger just went ahead and did it, quietly, effectively, and for nearly thirty years.