Kay Granger, former Texas congresswoman and Fort Worth’s first female mayor, dies at 83
Developed over time first seen 3 months ago
Kay Granger, the Republican politician who was Fort Worth's first female mayor and later represented Texas in the US House of Representatives for nearly three decades, has died at the age of 83. She was living in an independent living facility at the time of her death, which was confirmed on the evening of Sunday 2 August 2026 by a spokeswoman for Granger and her son, as well as by US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson. Her death caps a long career of public service, including a stint chairing the powerful House Appropriations Committee, though it also follows reports of declining health in her final year.
Granger's cause of death has not been disclosed. Her son, Brandon Granger, had told The Dallas Morning News in 2025 that his mother was experiencing "some dementia issues" late that year. Speaker Johnson paid tribute to her career, noting she had served Fort Worth as a teacher, businesswoman, member of the Zoning Commission and City Council, mayor, and congresswoman, during which she chaired the House Appropriations Committee. No further details of the circumstances of her death or additional tributes have emerged since it was first reported.
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In short
- Former Fort Worth mayor and Texas congresswoman Kay Granger has died, aged 83
- She had reportedly experienced dementia symptoms in late 2025
- Cause of death undisclosed; tributes paid by Speaker Mike Johnson
How this story developed
- 3 months ago No further details of her cause of death or additional tributes had surfaced beyond what was already reported, leaving coverage still confined to confirmation of her age and her twin historic roles as Fort Worth's first female mayor and a former Texas congresswoman.
- 3 months ago It emerged that Granger died on the evening of Sunday 2 August 2026 while living in an independent living facility, with her death confirmed by a family spokeswoman, her son Brandon Granger and House Speaker Mike Johnson, who hailed a career spanning teaching, business, Fort Worth's Zoning Commission and City Council, the mayoralty and nearly three decades in Congress including a spell chairing the House Appropriations Committee, coming after her son had disclosed in 2025 that she was suffering "some dementia issues".
- 3 months ago Kay Granger, the first female mayor of Fort Worth and a former Republican congresswoman for Texas, has died aged 83, though the report gave no detail on the cause or circumstances of her death.
Explained simply
Kay Granger spent decades in Texas politics, first at a local level and then in Washington. She began her career in Fort Worth city government before becoming the city's mayor, a role in which she was a trailblazer as the first woman to hold the post. She went on to represent the area in the US Congress, sitting as a Republican member of the House of Representatives.
Her career reflects a broader pattern of women breaking into political roles that had long been held by men, both in city leadership and in national office. Fort Worth is one of the largest cities in Texas, so her mayoralty and later congressional seat gave her significant influence over local and state-level issues during her time in office.
The current story concerns her death at the age of 83. At this stage, limited further detail has been reported beyond confirmation of her age and her two historic roles.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Former Texas congresswoman and first female mayor of Fort Worth Kay Granger dies at 83 years old”.