Former Texas Rep. Kay Granger, Longtime Appropriator, Dies At 83
Former Texas Rep. Kay Granger died Sunday, August 2, 2026, at age 83, her son J.D. Granger said.[1]
She was first elected to the U.S. House in 1996 and served nearly 30 years before declining to run again in 2024.[1]
Granger was the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the U.S. House and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee.[1] In Congress she focused heavily on defense spending and pushed for F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production in the Fort Worth area.[1]
She had been Fort Worth's first female mayor from 1991 to 1995 and implemented the "Code: Blue" anti-crime and economic revitalization effort while in city office.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- Kay Granger died Sunday, August 2, 2026, at age 83, according to her son J.D. Granger.
- She was first elected to the U.S. House in 1996 and served nearly 30 years before declining to run again in 2024.
- Granger was the first Republican woman from Texas elected to the House and the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee.
- She previously served as Fort Worth’s first female mayor from 1991 to 1995, implementing "Code: Blue" anti-crime and economic revitalization efforts.
- In Congress she focused heavily on defense spending, including championing F-35 Joint Strike Fighter production in Fort Worth.
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August 03, 2026