The ‘mayor’ of Congress is retiring. What Kay Granger meant for Fort Worth
It was January 1997.
Incoming U.S. Rep. Kay Granger’s voice cracked with emotion as she recounted her rise from an insurance agent to a member of Congress.
She was speaking to a crowd of about 150 people at a reception near the U.S. Capitol shortly before her oath of office ceremony. A few months prior, Granger had won an election to the House seat previously held by Pete Geren of Fort Worth, who had decided against seeking a fourth term.
“There will never be anything like this, any brighter time, any better time,” said Granger, a Republican from Fort Worth, holding back tears. “You took me from a schoolteacher, to a businesswoman, to a councilwoman, to a mayor — which was outstanding — and now to Congress.”
Little did everyone know it would be the first of 14 times she would be sworn in representing parts of Fort Worth. The most recent boundaries for her district include west Fort Worth, western Tarrant County and all of Parker County.
In January, Granger’s tenure comes to an end nearly three decades later.
As she exits Congress, Granger, 81, leaves a legacy as the first Republican woman to represent Texas in Washington and as a member who rose through the ranks to lead the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
During her time in office, Granger championed the defense industry and the Panther Island project in Fort Worth. She also earned a reputation for being “Texas tough,” as current Appropriation Chair Tom Cole of Oklahoma puts it.
“As my time in Congress comes to an end, I feel fulfilled and depart with optimism that this chamber will continue to serve the best interests of the American people,” Granger said in a November prepared statement.
Granger declined an interview request for this article through a spokesperson. On Dec. 22, Granger announced in a statement that she is experiencing health challenges that have progressed in recent months.
Kay Granger’s political rise
Granger’s political rise was expected early on in her career, former city council member and attorney Jim Lane told the Star-Telegram in 1996.
“We talked about her seeking high public office all the time,” Lane said at the time. “She was born to do it.”
Granger previously served on the Fort Worth City Council and as Fort Worth’s first woman mayor from 1991 to 1995.
Granger had an interest in federal spending early in her congressional career.
On the campaign trail in her first House bid, Granger said balancing the federal budget was a top priority. One of her first actions in office was filing a bill requiring the president to submit a balanced budget to Congress every year. Her first committee assignment: The budget committee.
She’d go on to serve in leadership roles like chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, chair of the State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee and eventually appropriations chair. She was the first Republican woman to hold the position.
During her time in office, Granger kept her focus on Fort Worth rather than the “national news BS” that many members get caught up in, said Rep. Marc Veasey, a Fort Worth Democrat.
“She never really stopped wearing the role of mayor when she came to Washington D.C.,” Veasey said.
State Sen. Phil King, a Weatherford Republican, said Granger always put Fort Worth first.
“Nobody loves Fort Worth more than Kay,” King said.
Granger has a “substance over style” approach to governing, said Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, who worked as Granger’s campaign manager and in her district office.
“I just think she was an operator, meaning if you wanted something done and you wanted someone serious and focused that could get things done, regardless of whether it was Republicans in control or Democrats, Kay was always top of mind,” Parker said.
Granger was a tough but fair boss, Parker said.
She was supportive as Parker juggled work and being a mom. Granger was one of the first people to visit her son after Parker gave birth, and Parker would be in meetings with the congresswoman while nursing, she said. When Parker graduated law school, Granger wanted her to take a month off to focus on the bar exam.
“She knew how important it was to get the work done, but at the same time help people be successful,” Parker said.
Rep. Beth Van Duyne, an Irving Republican and the second Republican Texas woman elected to Congress 24 years after Granger, said Granger’s leadership will be missed on Capitol Hill.
“From the start, Kay’s strength and clarity of purpose commanded respect,” Van Duyne said. “As chair of the House Appropriations Committee, she shaped key decisions that have impacted our nation. I’m grateful for her service — Chairwoman Granger has been a trailblazer and a powerful force for progress for our North Texas community and nation.”
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Granger announced her retirement in November 2023 and said in March she was stepping down as appropriations chair.
In her final weeks in office, Granger’s health has gotten attention. She announced on Dec. 22 that for the past year she has been navigating “unforeseen health challenges.” Her son Brandon Granger told the Dallas Morning News that she has been “having some dementia issues late in the year.”
Some online have criticized Granger for her absence from Washington and for missing votes. The news has sparked conversations about aging lawmakers, with billionaire and government efficiency adviser Elon Musk suggesting cognitive tests for elected officials.
Granger said in her prepared statement that her health challenges have progressed since early September, making frequent visits to Washington difficult and unpredictable. Her staff has continued to offer constituent services, and she traveled to Washington in November for meetings and to oversee the closure of her Washington Office, Granger said.
“Whether or not Kay has been in Washington, you can trust that she’s still been very involved and making sure she closes out her 27 years in Congress the same way she started,” Parker said. “And as I stated earlier, Kay is incredibly well respected, has had an excellent staff and a focus on serving the constituents of District 12. I will always be thankful for her dedication of public service.
“And then, I would separately just say that as a family that has also dealt with dementia recently, it is a very complex disease that oftentimes does exhibit new, more advanced symptoms very quickly, and so out of respect for Congresswoman Granger, her family, I am going to allow them to navigate that on behalf of Kay and what her wishes would be moving forward and wishing her a really healthy and happy retirement.”
Granger’s mark on Fort Worth
Granger represented Fort Worth as chair of the powerful Appropriations Committee.
She has helped provide funding for thousands of jobs in Texas, said Chris Wallace, CEO and president of the North Texas Commission, which advocates for the region on the state and federal level.
“She’s making sure that there are appropriations that build stronger local economies, including those in her district and throughout the entire state,” Wallace said.
One hallmark of Granger’s time in Congress is her work for the defense industry, particularly Lockheed Martin’s F-35, which is built in Fort Worth.
Fort Worth Chamber President and CEO Steve Montgomery said she’s been a stalwart for defending defense programs, be it for federal contractors like Lockheed or Bell.
“She’s been a staunch defender and advocator for those programs,” he said.
Parker noted Granger’s work around the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, which she fought to keep open in the 1990s when it was known as Carswell Air Force Base.
Montgomery also praised Granger’s work addressing infrastructure needs. A number of local projects need federal funding and support to make them possible, he said.
Montgomery singled out Panther Island, the development and flood control project north of downtown Fort Worth. Montgomery said the project may not have existed without Granger’s leadership.
“It’s such a transformative opportunity for Fort Worth to have that sort of development opportunity that close to our central business district,” Montgomery said. “Generations to come, that will be transformative.”
But Granger was not without her critics.
The Panther Island Project was previously led by Granger’s son, JD, who for 16 years was the executive director of the Trinity River Vision Authority, which helps coordinate the project. JD Granger was criticized over claims of nepotism. In April 2022, he announced that he was stepping down from the role to start his own company.
In 2022, Kay Granger made headlines for voting against a $1 trillion federal infrastructure bill that included money for the Panther Island project. At the time, Granger said she favored the project but opposed other parts of the bill.
Some Republicans also blasted Granger for not being conservative enough after she opposed Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, for House speaker in October 2023.
A new member takes the helm
Outgoing state Rep. Craig Goldman, a Fort Worth Republican, was elected in November to replace Granger in Congress.
He will serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee, continuing North Texas’ presence on that committee following Rep. Michael Burgess’ retirement. Goldman said his top priority when he takes office is continued federal support for the F-35.
“There’s a lot to learn, and there’s a lot to do, and I look forward to going to work Jan. 3,” Goldman said. “We got a notice the other day that we’re already meeting pretty much all day Jan. 4, so Speaker [Mike] Johnson does not mess around. We’re going to get in there and start working.”
Goldman began visiting Washington and taking meetings with members in December 2023 after announcing his bid for Congress.
Every member he met with had the same message when Goldman said he was running: “Those are huge shoes to fill.”
“She is so well respected, not only in Fort Worth, Tarrant County and Parker County, but she’s extremely well respected amongst the peers and staffers in Washington,” Goldman said.
That was apparent to him in November when he and other officials and community leaders joined Granger at a ceremony recognizing the longtime lawmaker with a portrait marking her time as appropriations chairwoman.
In a Nov. 19 news release about the portrait unveiling ceremony, House Speaker Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, said Granger’s portrait will “memorialize the expertise, wisdom, and example she has set for the Committee and Members of Congress.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, also a Louisiana Republican, called Granger “a tough-as-nails conservative leader, barrier breaker, and dedicated representative.”
Granger’s image will remain in the House Appropriations Committee’s main committee hearing room, even as she departs Washington.
This story was originally published December 27, 2024 at 6:00 AM.
