Kay Granger

Kay Granger is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Texas's 12th congressional district since 1997. A member of the Republican Party, she previously served as the Mayor of Fort Worth from 1991 to 1995, becoming the first woman to hold that office. Granger has risen to become one of the most influential appropriators in Congress, holding key leadership roles on the powerful House Appropriations Committee.

Early life and education

Kathryn Elizabeth Granger was born in Greenville, Texas, and was raised in Fort Worth. She attended Texas Wesleyan University, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, and later completed coursework at Texas Christian University. Before entering politics, Granger worked as a teacher in the Fort Worth Independent School District and subsequently owned and operated a successful insurance and financial services business in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.

Early career

Granger's political career began in local government, where she served on the Fort Worth City Council in the late 1980s. In 1991, she was elected as the Mayor of Fort Worth, succeeding Bob Bolen. Her tenure as mayor focused on economic development initiatives, including efforts to expand Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and attract major corporations to the region. She chose not to seek re-election in 1995 and was succeeded by Kenneth Barr.

U.S. House of Representatives

In the 1996 election, Granger was elected to the United States House of Representatives from Texas's 12th congressional district, winning the seat vacated by retiring Democrat Pete Geren. She took office in January 1997 and has been re-elected consistently since. Her seniority and expertise led to her appointment to the House Appropriations Committee, where she has chaired the Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs and the Subcommittee on Defense. In 2023, she was elected as the first Republican woman to serve as Chair of the full House Appropriations Committee.

Political positions and legislation

Granger is considered a pragmatic conservative with a strong focus on national security and federal spending. She has been a leading advocate for robust defense funding, supporting projects critical to Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and the F-35 Lightning II program. As a senior appropriator, she played a key role in crafting the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 and subsequent spending bills. On foreign policy, she has been a steadfast supporter of Israel and a vocal critic of the Iran nuclear deal. She co-sponsored the Taiwan Relations Act reaffirmation resolutions and has been involved in legislation concerning border security.

Electoral history

Granger won her initial election to the House in 1996 with 58% of the vote against Democrat Hugh Parmer. She has faced re-election challenges primarily in the 2008 election, where she won with 67% against Democrat Tracey Smith, and in 2018, defeating Democrat Vanessa Adia with 64%. In the 2020 election, she defeated Democrat Lisa Welch with 64% of the vote, and in 2022, she won re-election against Democrat Trey Hunt. Her district, which includes Fort Worth and surrounding areas in Tarrant County, has remained reliably Republican during her tenure.

Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from Texas Category:Texas Republicans Category:Mayors of Fort Worth, Texas Category:Texas Wesleyan University alumni Category:People from Fort Worth, Texas Category:Women in United States politics