An 81-year-old GOP Congresswoman from Texas, Kay Granger, who has not voted on the House floor in months and was recently found living in a senior care facility, is igniting the debate over whether there should be an age limit for elected officials.
The last time Rep. Granger cast a vote on the House floor was back in July. She's missed over 54% of votes this year. Her extended absence raised concerns among her constituency, with reporters eventually locating her in a memory care facility in Fort Worth where she's "having some dementia issues."
Her son, Brandon Granger said that his mother made the decision to move into the community on her own, though she has since shown signs of dementia over the past three months. Despite her son clarifying that she's in an independent living facility, Granger's health issues have progressed, making travel to Washington difficult and unpredictable.
In a statement from her office, Granger expressed gratitude for the public's concern -- adding that she's been experiencing health issues since early September.
Granger, who announced in Nov. 2023 that she would not seek re-election, did not inform her constituents about her absence, and will remain on the taxpayers' payroll until Jan. 3, 2025. Local Republicans have expressed concern over her absence, stating that it denies Texans representation in Congress and disenfranchises 2 million people in her district.
There have also been questions about why Granger's absence and condition were kept private, why she didn't retire sooner, and whether Republican leadership was informed of her situation. State Republican Executive Committeeman Rolando Garcia has criticized the handling of Granger's situation, calling it a "sad and humiliating" end to her political career and highlighting the need for a replacement.
Granger has represented the 12th Congressional District since 1997 and was the first Republican woman to represent Texas in the House. She's being succeeded by Republican Craig Goldman.
While the U.S. Constitution sets minimum age thresholds for presidents and members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, there are no maximum age limits.
According to a 2023 survey from the Pew Research Center, 79% of Americans favor maximum age limits for elected officials. The concern was bipartisan, with 82% of Republicans and 76% of Democrats calling for maximum age limits.
It's a concern shared by some lawmakers. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), for instance, called for term limits, saying in a post on X that Granger's "long absence reveals the problem with a Congress that rewards seniority & relationships more than merit & ideas."