Kay Granger’s historic tenure as the first Republican woman elected to represent Texas in Congress marks a milestone in the GOP’s evolution in the state, even as a new generation of female candidates prepares to expand that legacy. Granger, who took office in January 1997 after winning election in 1996, served nearly 28 years in the House, completing 14 terms before retiring in 2025.
Before her congressional career, Granger made history in Fort Worth, serving as the city’s first female mayor from 1991 to 1995. She was also a high school teacher and ran an insurance agency for over 20 years before entering politics.
In Congress, Granger became known for her advocacy on defense spending, particularly supporting the F-35 fighter jet manufacturing in her district, and securing over $400 million in funding for Fort Worth’s Panther Island flood control project. She also championed legislation to combat the opioid epidemic and fight online sex trafficking. Her career earned her the U.S. National Guard Association’s Harry S. Truman Award, the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, and induction into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame.
Granger’s most prominent role came when she became the first Republican woman to chair the House Appropriations Committee in January 2023. She stepped down from the position early in March 2024 but remained in Congress until the end of her term. In December 2024, after missing votes due to health challenges, she disclosed that she had been residing in a senior living facility in Fort Worth since July 2024.
Texas GOP Women Poised for Historic Growth
Granger’s departure opens a new chapter for Republican women in Texas politics. Since Texas joined the Union, the state has sent only five Republican women to the U.S. House in total—a stark contrast to its position as the state sending more Republicans to Congress than any other. Now, that could change dramatically in 2026.
Two Republican nominees in the Houston area, Alex Mealer and Jessica Steinmann, are favored to win their red-leaning districts in the general election, according to Houston Public Media reporting from late July 2026. If both prevail, Texas could send a record four GOP women to Congress at once—more than the state has ever had simultaneously. This would include incumbent Representatives Monica De La Cruz and Beth Van Duyne, though De La Cruz faces one of Texas’ most competitive races.
The shift reflects both redistricting changes and a wave of retirements that created openings for new candidates. Mealer, an Army bomb squad officer turned energy finance professional, and Steinmann, who previously served as Senator Ted Cruz’s regional director and led the Justice Department’s crime victims office, represent a younger generation of conservative women. The organization Winning for Women has invested heavily in their campaigns, spending over $300,000 on Steinmann’s race and more than $450,000 on Mealer’s, part of a broader effort to reverse the GOP’s decline in female representation.
Granger herself acknowledged the need for generational change when she announced her retirement in late 2023. “It’s time for the next generation to step up and take the mantle and be a strong and fierce representative for the people,” she said. Former Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price called Granger “a trailblazer,” while current Mayor Mattie Parker noted that “the lasting impact of her leadership cannot be overstated.”
Sources
- Wikipedia — Kay Granger biography, confirming her 1996 election, 1997-2025 service, and status as first Republican woman from Texas
- Congress.gov — Official congressional record confirming her service from 1997 through 2025 in Texas District 12
- Texas Tribune — Reporting on her 1991-1995 tenure as Fort Worth’s first female mayor and her November 2023 retirement announcement
- CBS News Texas — Profile of her legacy including her roles as first female Fort Worth mayor, first GOP woman from Texas, and first female Republican Appropriations Committee chair
- House Appropriations Committee — Official press release from November 19, 2024, honoring her as “first Republican woman to Chair the full Appropriations Committee”
- Houston Public Media — Reporting from July 30, 2026, on Texas potentially sending a record four GOP women to Congress, referencing Granger as “the first Republican woman to represent Texas in Congress in 1997” and noting the 31 female GOP candidates who filed for House seats in Texas in 2026
- Politico — December 22, 2024, reporting on Granger’s health challenges and residence in an assisted-living facility
