- Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), 81, has been largely absent from Congress since July, missing over 54 percent of votes due to significant health challenges, including dementia, which were not publicly disclosed until recently.
- Reports revealed Granger has been living in a senior care facility in her hometown of Fort Worth.
- Her extended absence and the delayed disclosure of her health status have sparked debates about transparency, congressional accountability and aging leadership in U.S. politics.
- Her situation has reignited calls for term limits and other reforms to address concerns about aging leadership and encourage a new generation of politicians.
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) of Fort Worth, who was discovered earlier this month to have been living in a senior assisted living facility, has drawn uproar over her extended absence from Congress and refusal to disclose her health to the public.
Granger, who announced her retirement from Congress in 2023 after having served as Fort Worth's representative for nearly 30 years, has been largely absent from the Capitol since July, missing over 54 percent of votes in the House of Representatives this year.
Her family has recently issued a statement noting that the 81-year-old has faced significant health challenges in the final months of her tenure in Congress. Her extended absence and the lack of disclosures until after the story broke has sparked discussions about transparency, congressional accountability and the broader issue of aging leadership in United States politics.
Granger's health issues first came to public attention after reports emerged that she was residing in a retirement facility in Fort Worth. The Dallas Express initially reported that she was living in a memory care facility. Her son, Brandon, clarified that she resides in the independent living section of Tradition Senior Living, a community that offers "resort-style living" and is not specifically a memory care facility.
Brandon acknowledged that his mother has been "having some dementia issues late in the year" but emphasized that she chose the facility to be part of an active community of older adults. (Related: White House aides knew Biden was mentally and physically unfit to be president from the very beginning.)
In a statement released by her office, Granger confirmed that she has been navigating "unforeseen health challenges" over the past year, which have made frequent travel to Washington, D.C., "both difficult and unpredictable" since early September.
Despite her health struggles, Granger returned to Washington in November to oversee the closure of her office and attend a celebration of her career on the House Appropriations Committee, where she served as chair until stepping down in March 2024.
Granger's extended absence raises questions regarding health issues faced by older politicians
Granger's absence from Congress has raised questions about transparency and the handling of her health status. Her office did not publicly disclose her condition earlier, and her son noted that the progression of her health issues has been "a surprise."
The lack of disclosure has drawn criticism, particularly in light of broader concerns about aging leadership in Congress.
Rep. Ro Khana (D-CA) described the situation as emblematic of a "sclerotic gerontocracy" and called for term limits and campaign finance reform to encourage a new generation of leaders. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) described the situation with Granger as making "a compelling case for term limits."
Granger's career has been marked by several historic milestones. She was the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Texas in 1996 and previously served as the first female mayor of Fort Worth.
As chair of the House Appropriations Committee, she played a key role in shaping federal spending bills and advocated for robust defense funding, particularly for projects benefiting her district, such as Lockheed Martin’s F-35 jets and the Trinity River Vision flood control project.
Her decision to retire was influenced by both her age and House GOP rules, which impose a three-term limit for top committee positions. Granger had already served two terms as the senior Republican on the committee and would have been required to step down as chair in the next session.
Granger's seat will be filled by Craig Goldman, a former Texas House member, who won the general election in November.
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