A political discourse that crosses party lines regarding the age of several notable leaders in Washington, D.C. rekindled over the weekend after it was revealed that Republican Rep. Kay Granger has been residing in an independent living facility in Texas, following an unexplained six-month absence from the Capitol.
Initially brought to light by The Dallas Express, Granger, who is 81 years old, was reported to be staying at a local memory care center after being discovered wandering lost and bewildered in her previous neighborhood. Her son, Brandon Granger, informed The Dallas Morning News on Sunday that his mother has been “experiencing some dementia-related issues late in the year” but clarified that she is not in a facility specifically for memory care.
Brandon further explained that Granger has been residing at the Tradition Senior Living in Fort Worth. Marketed as a “resort-style living with extensive amenities” on its website, the establishment includes a memory care community; however, he emphasized that Granger is living in its independent living section. A source also mentioned to Axios that Granger moved into the facility in July, coinciding with the last month she voted in Washington D.C., which can be verified on her roll call vote page.
Granger’s unexpected absence raised alarms among officials and other Congressional members, many of whom took to social media and the press on Sunday to share their opinions regarding the age-related discourse in Congress.
On one side, Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) expressed to Axios that the public “deserves much more transparency about the health status of the elected officials who serve them.”
“The incapacity of an elected official is a critical matter that should be made known to the public, instead of being hidden by their staff,” he remarked.
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) appeared to concur, stating on X: “Kay Granger’s extended absence highlights the flaws within a Congress that prioritizes seniority and connections over merit and innovative ideas. We are facing a stagnant gerontocracy.
“It is imperative that we establish term limits. We must eliminate the influence of big money in politics so that a new wave of Americans can run for office and serve their country,” he added.
One wonders if those same Democrats expressed any concern, public or otherwise, about the evidently-declining cognitive abilities of Joe Biden?
In addition, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) commented on Granger’s situation, directing attention to other Congressional members while posting on X that “I’m more worried about those congressmen who may have dementia yet continue to cast votes.”
A House Republican, who requested to remain unnamed, also shared with Axios that Granger’s absence is “definitely” concerning because her constituents “are without representation.” They further stated that there should be a greater impetus to confront the age issue in Congress, but noted “there isn’t enough urgency.”
On Sunday, Granger issued a statement revealing her personal health challenges that have made traveling to Washington “challenging and unpredictable.”
“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues are aware, I have been coping with some unforeseen health issues throughout the past year,” Granger wrote as reported by Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram. “However, since early September, my health situation has deteriorated, making regular travel to Washington both challenging and unpredictable.”
“In November, I managed to return to D.C. to conduct meetings on behalf of my constituents, express my appreciation to my staff, and supervise the closure of my Washington office,” the U.S. representative for Texas’s 12th congressional district elaborated. “It has been a tremendous honor to serve the city of Fort Worth—as a city council member, as mayor, and as a Member of Congress.”
