Congresswoman found in nursing home after five-month absence
Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX) has not shown up for work in five months, during which time she relocated to an assisted living facility without the knowledge of her constituents.
The 81-year-old congresswoman, who has served in the House of Representatives since 1997, last reported for duty on July 24, 2024, when she voted against an amendment to lower the salary of the deputy assistant administrator for pesticide programs to $1.
Granger has not participated in any congressional votes since then (missing more than a hundred). Her constituents noted her disappearance last week when she conspicuously failed to weigh in on the continuing resolution bill controversy.
The Dallas Express says their team tried calling Granger’s office but was greeted with an automated message. When they visited her office, they found it locked with its window covered and no sign of occupancy. Further inquiries revealed that Granger’s staff had packed everything up and vacated the office before Thanksgiving.
One of Granger’s constituents told The Dallas Express the congresswoman had been checked into an assisted living facility after she was found wandering in a state of confusion in her former Cultural District/West 7th neighborhood. Reporters visited the Tradition Senior Living nursing home, where two employees confirmed Granger is a resident.
“This is her home,” said the facility’s assistant executive director Taylor Manziel.
According to the Dallas Morning News, Granger’s son also confirmed that his mother is a resident of Tradition and was "having some dementia issues late in the year."
However, the congresswoman’s office denies she is in the dementia wing and says she is in the independent living facility.
"Kay Granger is not in Memory Care," her office said. In a personal statement, Granger added: "As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year."
CBS News reports that Granger had told leadership she was experiencing health challenges but this was not relayed to her constituents.
Constituents: ‘We deserve better’
Granger had planned to retire at the end of the current session, to be succeeded by Craig Goldman. Granger’s constituents, who have had no representation in Congress for five months, expressed their outrage.
“We need someone there with their full capacities,” said Tarrant County resident Hollie Plemons. “Swear Craig in early. That’s the solution. That’s the right thing to do. She just missed a big vote, it wasn’t won/loss on one vote but we still have to protect our country, it’s not about hurt feelings. She’s a public servant, we have thanked her for her service but now she needs to resign.”
“I’m hearing she’s in a memory care unit. We need to have standards. Representatives who miss 3 votes in a row without announcing a legitimate medical reason should have their salaries and benefits frozen. This has to stop!” another constituent posted on X.
“The lack of representation for CD-12 is troubling to say the least,” said Tarrant County GOP Chairman Bo French. “At a time when extraordinarily important votes are happening, including debt ceiling, disaster relief, farm bills and border issues, Kay Granger is nowhere to be found. The margin in Congress is razor thin and the lack of a Republican vote representing CD-12 disenfranchises 2 million people. We deserve better.”
