After months of speculation and concern, the case of absent congresswoman Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas) appears to have been clarified. An investigation published by The Dallas Express revealed the 81-year-old legislator has been living at Tradition Senior Living, an assisted living facility located in Fort Worth, Texas. Granger, who has represented Texas’s 12th Congressional District since 1997, has not cast a vote since July 24, raising concerns about her health and capability to serve her constituents.
The investigation began when reporters sought Granger to inquire about her stance on contentious legislation affecting the Republican party. Attempts to contact her congressional offices met with silence, as calls went directly to voicemail, and her office appeared closed for business according to staff at the office complex. Employees advised reporters Granger’s office had closed prior to Thanksgiving. A tip-off suggested the congresswoman was residing at Tradition Senior Living, leading investigators to confirm her residency.
Upon visiting the facility, The Dallas Express found employees who confirmed Granger's living arrangement. Tradition Senior Living's assistant executive director, Taylor Manziel, unequivocally stated, “This is her home.” Despite this confirmation, Granger’s family provided additional details about her living situation and health. Her son, Brandon Granger, acknowledged his mother was experiencing “some dementia issues” late last year but insisted she was not residing within the facility’s memory care unit, rather the independent living section.
Brandon described the past year as challenging for their family, reflecting on the rapid progression of his mother’s health issues. A statement from Granger’s office reiterated her difficult health condition, asserting, “Since early September, my health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable.” The statement acknowledged her absence from Congress and addressed concerns raised by her constituents.
Public reaction to Granger’s prolonged absence has been multifaceted, with significant backlash online criticizing the lack of oversight concerning elderly politicians holding onto power. Speculations intensified after it was reported Granger was found wandering lost and confused around her neighborhood prior to being placed at Tradition Senior Living. Many individuals are drawing parallels to other aging political figures under scrutiny for their mental acuity, such as President Joe Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Tarrant County Republican Chair Bo French expressed the gravity of Granger's absence, emphasizing the lack of representation for the district. “At a time when extraordinarily important votes are happening, including debt ceiling, disaster relief, and farm bills, Kay Granger is nowhere to be found. The margin in Congress is razor-thin and her absence disenfranchises 2 million people. We deserve more,” French deplored.
Elderly politicians retaining power without adequate mechanisms for accountability have raised the alarm among some political commentators. Rolando Garcia, another local Republican, characterized Granger's situation as “a sad and humili…azation of the congressional gerontocracy.” He lamented, “Sad but true, nobody cared enough to ‘take away the keys’ before she reached this moment,” hinting at the broader systemic issues at play within Congress.
Granger announced her intention not to seek reelection but attended events celebrating her tenure, including one for her time on the House Appropriations Committee, where her portrait was unveiled. Despite these appearances, her absence from House votes during significant legislative periods raised eyebrows among her constituents and political peers alike.
The congresswoman’s health issues culminated during her long and distinguished career, which saw her as the first Republican woman elected to the U.S. House from Texas and as the first female mayor of Fort Worth. She served as chair of the House Appropriations Committee, dealing with national security and various funding initiatives, among them those benefiting manufacturing sectors within her district.
Granger has been succeeded by Craig Goldman, who will assume the role come January 3, 2025, marking the end of Granger’s nearly 30-year political legacy. The transition invites questions about the representation of aging politicians and the capacity of Congress to navigate such significant public health matters, aiming to safeguard effective governance.
The incident has sparked new debates about the concerns surrounding elderly politicians, urging discussions on the importance of evaluating fitness for duty and the need for similar oversight practices to apply within legislative bodies—as Granger's situation becomes emblematic of worries swirling around the aging political class.