Missing Republican Congresswoman Found in Nursing Facility – JP
Rep. Kay Granger, a longtime Republican congresswoman from Texas, has been located in a memory care nursing facility after being absent from the Capitol for six months. Granger, 81, has not cast a vote in Washington, D.C., since July, raising concerns among constituents in Texas’ 12th Congressional District and sparking criticism about the lack of representation during critical votes.
Her absence is particularly significant given the Republican Party’s slim majority in the House and the importance of recent legislation, including the government spending bill. Despite winning reelection in 2022, Granger did not seek another term in November. However, questions about her capacity to serve have grown louder following reports she was found lost and confused in her neighborhood before being admitted to the facility.
The Dallas Express confirmed Granger’s residency at the memory care facility, where staff stated, “This is her home.” Granger was unavailable for comment. Local Republican leaders expressed their dismay at the situation. Tarrant County Republican Chairman Bo French called her absence “troubling to say the least,” noting that the district’s 2 million residents were left without representation during key votes.
State Republican Executive Committeeman Rolando Garcia criticized the circumstances surrounding her final months in office, saying, “The fact that Kay Granger is unable to leave her nursing home to participate in the most important congressional vote of the year suggests she was already in visible decline when she ran for re-election in 2022.” He called it “a sad and humiliating way to end her political career” and lamented the broader issue of aging lawmakers staying in office too long.
Constituents have also voiced frustration. Hollie Plemons, a Tarrant County resident, urged action: “We need someone there with their full capacities. Swear Craig [Goldman, the congressman-elect] in early. That’s the solution. That’s the right thing to do. … She’s a public servant, we have thanked her for her service, but now she needs to resign.”
Granger and her staff will remain on the taxpayer payroll until Jan. 3, despite her prolonged absence and inability to fulfill her duties.