Texas Rep Kay Granger found living in memory care facility though she remains in office

A Republican congresswoman from Texas has not cast a vote in the US House since July, reportedly living in a memory care facility, a situation she did not publicly disclose.  

Kay Granger, 81, has represented Texas’s 12th congressional district, which includes parts of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, since 1997. In January 2023, she began serving as chairperson of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.  

After announcing plans to retire at the end of her term in early 2025, Granger largely disappeared from public life. Her last recorded vote, according to her congressional website, was on July 24, when she opposed a measure to cut the salary of the deputy assistant administrator for pesticide programs to $1. This vote occurred just days after President Joe Biden withdrew from the presidential race, citing concerns about his age and mental fitness.  

Carlos Turcios, a reporter for the Dallas Express, investigated her absence and discovered that Granger had moved into an assisted living center specializing in memory care. After visiting the facility, Turcios reported that the assistant executive director confirmed her residency, stating, “This is her home.”  

Grange's office says the retiring Congresswoman is not in memory care. However, she is in a retirement facility which provides memory care.

“I am deeply grateful for the outpouring of care and concern over the past several days. As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year. However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable. During this time, my incredible staff has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver exceptional constituent services, as they have for the past 27 years. In November, I was able to return to DC to hold meetings on behalf of my constituents, express my gratitude to my staff, and oversee the closure of my Washington office. It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the city of Fort Worth—as a city council member, as mayor, and as a Member of Congress.  Thank you for your continued prayers and support that you have extended to me.”

In November, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise praised Granger at an event in Washington, D.C. Johnson called her “a champion for Texas” and “a faithful public servant,” while Scalise lauded her as “a tough-as-nails conservative.” 

Granger made history as the first woman to serve as mayor of Fort Worth and the first Republican woman from Texas elected to Congress. She played a key role in securing military funding, particularly for the F-35 fighter jet program built in her district.