Kay Granger, the Republican Congresswoman from Texas, has not cast a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives since July 2023, raising concerns about her health and absence from public life. At 81, Granger, who has served Texas’s 12th district since 1997, had remained largely out of the spotlight after announcing her plans to retire in 2025. Her last recorded vote was on July 24, opposing a measure related to government salaries, but after that, she disappeared from the public eye, with no updates or communication from her offices.
The Dallas Express uncovered the truth behind her prolonged absence, revealing that Granger had moved into a memory care facility. The report followed a series of failed attempts to reach her office, with calls going straight to voicemail and no visible activity at her constituency office. A tip led the reporter to a local facility, where an executive confirmed that Granger was residing there, prompting public disclosure of her situation. Despite this revelation, neither Granger nor her staff responded to inquiries.
Kay Granger’s Health Challenges Spark Criticism Over Representation in Texas District
The discovery has sparked criticism from local Republican leaders, who voiced concerns about the lack of representation for Granger’s district. Bo French, the chair of the Tarrant County Republican Party, expressed frustration that significant votes on issues like disaster relief and the border took place while Granger was absent. Some, like Texas Republican committee member Rolando Garcia, also questioned whether Granger should have run for re-election in 2022 given her evident health decline, calling it a “sad and humiliating” end to her political career.
While Granger’s health issues have prompted concern, she has also received praise from her colleagues in Washington. In November, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise honored her, praising her long tenure and contributions to Texas, including securing military funding for her district. Despite this, her health has become a point of contention, with parallels drawn to concerns over the cognitive fitness of other aging political figures, such as President Biden, whose own mental health has been widely debated.
Granger’s health-related absence has led to her congressional seat being contested, with Texas state representative Craig Goldman set to take over after winning election in November. Granger’s legacy includes becoming the first woman to serve as Fort Worth’s mayor and securing defense funding for the area, particularly through the presence of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility. However, her decision to remain silent about her condition and the subsequent fallout have raised questions about transparency and the challenges faced by older politicians in maintaining public trust.
