Kay Granger, a Republican congresswoman from Texas, has not participated in a House vote since July due to “dementia issues” and has been residing in a senior living facility, her family revealed. This information came to light after a Dallas media outlet investigated her prolonged absence.
Granger, 81, has represented Texas’s 12th congressional district, encompassing parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, since 1997. She has held prominent roles in Congress, including serving as chairperson of the influential House Appropriations Committee beginning in January 2023.
However, following her announcement to retire at the end of her term in 2025, Granger largely disappeared from public view. Her last recorded vote was on July 24, opposing a measure to reduce a pesticide program administrator’s salary.
The Dallas Express reporter Carlos Turcios uncovered that Granger had moved into an assisted living facility specializing in memory care. After receiving a tip and confirming her residence with the facility's staff, Turcios published his findings.
Granger’s son later acknowledged that she was dealing with dementia and had moved to a senior living community. He clarified that she resides in an independent living unit, although the property also houses a memory care center.
Local Republican leaders expressed concern over the lack of representation for Granger’s district during crucial legislative moments, including votes on disaster relief, the debt ceiling, and border policies.
Bo French, chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party, criticized the situation:
“The lack of representation for [Granger’s district] is troubling to say the least … We deserve better.”
Rolando Garcia, a Texas state Republican committee member, suggested Granger may have been in decline during her successful 2022 re-election campaign.
“A sad and humiliating way to end her political career,” he wrote on social media, criticizing the congressional tendency to overlook age-related challenges.
Despite the controversy, Granger’s colleagues in the House have praised her contributions. At a November event honoring her, House Speaker Mike Johnson called her “a champion for Texas” and “a faithful public servant.”
Granger holds a historic place in Texas politics as the first woman to serve as mayor of Fort Worth and the first female Republican from the state elected to Congress. Known for her advocacy of military funding, her district includes a Lockheed Martin facility that produces F-35 fighter jets.
Granger’s Facebook page recently featured a post with her and her aides, referring to them as “the best.”
Granger’s seat will be filled by Craig Goldman, who won the November election to succeed her in Congress. Meanwhile, her absence raises questions about the support and oversight provided to aging lawmakers navigating health challenges while in office.
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