Kay Granger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kay Granger
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| Chair of the House Appropriations Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2023 – April 10, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Rosa DeLauro |
| Succeeded by | Tom Cole |
| Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – January 3, 2023 |
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| Preceded by | Nita Lowey |
| Succeeded by | Rosa DeLauro |
| Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2009 |
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| Leader | John Boehner |
| Preceded by | Jack Kingston |
| Succeeded by | Cathy McMorris Rodgers |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas's 12th district |
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| In office January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Pete Geren |
| Succeeded by | Craig Goldman |
| 41st Mayor of Fort Worth | |
| In office May 21, 1991 – December 19, 1995 |
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| Preceded by | Bob Bolen |
| Succeeded by | Jewell Woods (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Norvell Kay Mullendore
January 18, 1943 Greenville, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | August 2, 2026 (aged 83) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | Texas Wesleyan University (BA) |
Kay Granger (born Norvell Kay Mullendore on January 18, 1943 – died August 2, 2026) was an important American politician. She served as a U.S. Representative for Texas's 12th congressional district from 1997 until 2025. As a member of the Republican Party, she led the House Committee on Appropriations from 2023 to 2024.
Before her time in Congress, Kay Granger was a teacher and a businesswoman. She was the first woman to become Mayor of Fort Worth in 1991, serving until 1995. She also made history as the first Republican woman from Texas to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Later, she became the first Republican woman to chair the powerful House Committee on Appropriations. She retired from Congress in 2025 and passed away on August 2, 2026.
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Kay Granger's Early Life and Career
Kay Granger was born Norvell Kay Mullendore in Greenville, Texas. She finished high school in 1961 and graduated from Texas Wesleyan University in 1965. Her mother was also a teacher, and an elementary school in the Birdville School District is named in her honor.
Kay Granger started her career as a high school English and journalism teacher. Later, she became an insurance agent and owned her own business.
She became interested in local government when a waste processing plant was planned near her home. As a single mother with three children, she successfully organized people to oppose the plan. This led to her appointment to the Fort Worth Zoning Commission, which helps decide how land can be used. She served on this commission from 1981 to 1989.
From 1989 to 1991, Kay Granger served on the Fort Worth City Council. In 1991, she made history by becoming the first female mayor of Fort Worth. She held this position until 1995. During her time as mayor, she even welcomed Queen Elizabeth II to Dallas and encouraged her to visit Fort Worth in the future.
Serving in the U.S. House of Representatives
Becoming a Representative
Kay Granger was first elected to the United States Congress in 1996. She was a member of the Republican Party. She represented Texas's 12th congressional district from 1997 to 2025. She was the first Republican woman from Texas to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In 2020, she received support from President Donald Trump for her re-election campaign.
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Key Roles and Achievements
In 2006, Kay Granger was chosen as the Conference Vice Chair. This was the fourth-highest leadership position among Republicans in the House. She also led the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations. This committee decides how much money goes to different government programs.
Granger was also the first woman to serve on the United States House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. She also worked on the Subcommittee for Labor, Health, Human Services, and Education. She was a Chief Deputy Whip in the House, helping to gather votes for important bills.
One of her notable achievements was sponsoring a bill to give the Congressional Gold Medal to the Monuments Men from World War II. These brave individuals worked to find and protect valuable art and cultural treasures during the war. Her bill became law, and the medals were awarded in October 2015.
Kay Granger was a member of the House Appropriations Committee for 25 years. She served as the top Republican member, known as the ranking member. When the Republican Party gained control of the House in 2022, she became the chair of the Committee in January 2023. She was the first woman to hold this important position. She stepped down as chair in April 2024.
In January 2021, Kay Granger was not present for a vote on a presidential impeachment due to being diagnosed with COVID-19. She stated that she was against the impeachment.
Retirement from Congress
On October 30, 2023, Kay Granger announced that she would not run for re-election in 2024. She officially stepped down as chair of the House Appropriations Committee on April 10, 2024. Her last recorded vote in Congress was on July 24, 2024. She returned to Washington in November 2024 for a special ceremony honoring her work on the House Appropriations Committee.
Craig Goldman was elected to represent Texas's 12th congressional district on November 5, 2024, taking over her seat.
Kay Granger's Political Views
The Washington Post described Kay Granger as generally moderate on social issues, but conservative when it came to government spending. In 2013, the National Journal, a group that studies politics, gave her a score of 73% conservative and 27% liberal. This shows her overall political leanings.
According to FiveThirtyEight, she voted with President Donald Trump's ideas about 97% of the time by February 2020. By October 2021, she voted with President Joe Biden's ideas about 11% of the time.
Support for Defense Spending
Kay Granger was well-known for her strong support of spending on national defense. She believed in having a strong military.
In June 2013, Granger voted for a change to a defense law. This change aimed to stop the the Pentagon from making new agreements with Russia's state arms company, Rosoboronexport.
During her time in office, Granger supported over $50 million in special funding for projects in Fort Worth. These projects helped improve the Trinity River Vision Authority, an organization led by her son.
Granger voted for a resolution that supported Israel following certain events in October 2023.
Presidential Endorsements
On September 25, 2007, Kay Granger supported former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney in his campaign for president. She became a national co-chair for a group called "Women for Mitt."
In 2015, she initially did not support Donald Trump for president. However, in 2020, she changed her stance and endorsed him, and he, in turn, supported her re-election.
Committees and Groups Kay Granger Joined
Kay Granger was a member of several important groups in Congress:
- Committee on Appropriations
- Anti-Terrorism Caucus (Co-Chair)
- United States Congressional International Conservation Caucus
- Iraqi Women's Caucus (Co-Chair)
- Sportsmen's Caucus
- Congressional Arts Caucus
- U.S.–Japan Caucus
- House Baltic Caucus
- Congressional NextGen 9-1-1 Caucus
- Republican Study Committee
- Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans
- Congressional Taiwan Caucus
- Congressional Community Health Centers Caucus
Kay Granger's Book
In 2006, Kay Granger wrote a book called What's Right About America, Celebrating Our Nation's Values. The book shared her thoughts on important lessons from famous people in U.S. history.
Kay Granger's Personal Life
Kay Granger had three children and five grandchildren. She was divorced. She was a member of the United Methodist Church.
Kay Granger passed away on August 2, 2026, at the age of 83.
Honors and Recognition
- A school in the Northwest Independent School District, Kay Granger Elementary School, opened in August 2007 and was named in her honor.
- Kay Granger Park, a city park in North Richland Hills, was also named after her. It is located next to Mullendore Elementary School.
- In 1993, her high school recognized her as a distinguished alumna, meaning a notable former student.
Images for kids
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Kay Granger speaking at the 2015 Lincoln Day Dinner.
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Kay Granger campaign sign in the Fort Worth Stockyards
See also
- Women in the United States House of Representatives
