Rep. Kay Granger has reportedly relocated to a retirement community, after a bombshell report by a local news outlet alleged that she was staying in a memory care unit.
81-year-old Granger, who plans to retire at the conclusion of her current term, has been noticeably absent from Capitol Hill in recent months.
Her last recorded vote was cast on July 24, and she’s missed more than 54% of votes in 2023.
The Dallas Express investigated her prolonged absence, publishing a claim that Granger was living in a memory care facility in Texas.
Granger’s family has since clarified her situation, confirming that she is currently in an independent living community, not a facility’s memory care section.
They also acknowledged that she has been experiencing dementia-like symptoms since moving in.
Her son, Brandon Granger, addressed the rumors in an interview with The New York Post, saying, “They have a memory care facility there, but she’s in [an] independent living facility. It’s a nice condo. I helped her move in.”
He dismissed allegations that his mother had entered the facility due to a mental health decline as “a load of bulls–t,” asserting that her decision to move was a voluntary one.
Granger herself issued a statement acknowledging the health challenges she’s been facing.
“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year,” she stated.
“However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable. During this time, my incredible staff has remained steadfast, continuing to deliver exceptional constituent services, as they have for the past 27 years.”
Despite her health issues, Granger returned to the Capitol in November for the unveiling of her portrait as Chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee.
During the event, House Speaker Johnson, R-La., and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., delivered speeches in her honor.
Granger notably missed voting on the most recent government funding debate last week and hasn’t participated in any votes since July, a detail slammed by Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., on X.
“Kay Granger’s long absence reveals the problem with a Congress that rewards seniority & relationships more than merit & ideas,” Khanna wrote.
“We have a sclerotic gerontocracy. We need term limits. We need to get big money out of politics so a new generation of Americans can run and serve.”
Similarly, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., reacted to the controversy by tweeting that he is more concerned about the congressmen who have dementia and are still voting,” as a response to the Dallas Express report.
Granger, a Republican powerhouse in the House since 1997, made history as Fort Worth, Texas’s first female mayor before transitioning into federal politics.
Her tenure as Chair of the Appropriations Committee came to an end in March when she passed the baton to Rep. Thomas Cole, R-Okla.
