What's New
After being absent from the public eye for nearly six months, GOP Representative Kay Granger was found at an independent senior living facility suffering from memory loss, the Dallas Express reported over the weekend.
Granger, who announced last year she would not seek re-election, is among the elder lawmakers departing the House as the 118th Congress winds down.
Why It Matters
Over the last decade or so, the federal government has earned a reputation as being something of a gerontocracy, with power concentrated among a group of senior members significantly older than the majority of the adult population. The current House, for example, has an average age of 58, making it the third oldest in history.
But some are hopeful that a new generation of politicians are being ushered in. Garner and two other House lawmakers in their 80s are set to retire. That includes Representative Grace Napolitano, who is currently the oldest member of the chamber at 88. Representative Anna Eshoo, 82, is also retiring. Both are Democrats.
What to Know
But even as the public grows increasingly concerned over whether aging politicians have the mental acuity or fresh ideas needed to lead the country, many have held onto their seats. The House's octogenarian members remains some of the most powerful in the chamber.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who recently received hip replacement surgery for a fall, is one of the most influential Democrats at 84. Also 84 is Representative Jim Clyburn, who was credited with helping Joe Biden—the oldest U.S. president in history—win the White House in 2020.
Both Pelosi and Clyburn will return to the their seats next year, as will Representatives Hal Rogers, 86; Maxine Waters, 86; Steny Hoyer, 85; Danny Davis, 83; John Carter, 83; Fredrica Wilson, 82; Rosa DeLauro, 81; Virginia Foxx, 8; Jan Schakowsky, 80; Doris Matsui, 80 and Emanuel Cleaver, 80.
It was revealed over the weekend that Granger, who has missed several months of votes in Congress, was discovered living in an independent senior living facility as she experiences "dementia issues."
"It's been a hard year," Granger's son told the Dallas Morning News, adding that it was a surprise how quickly his 81-year-old mother's condition has progressed.
The last time the Texas Republican cast a vote on the House floor was July 24. She has missed 311 votes since, including the spending bill that narrowly avoided a government shutdown last week.
What People Are Saying
Kay Granger in a Sunday statement: "As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year. However, since early September, my health challenges have progressed making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable."
Ro Khanna, Democrat from California, on X: "Kay Granger's long absence reveals the problem with a Congress that rewards seniority & relationships more than merit & ideas. 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."
Angela Morabito, former Trump administration official and Defense of Freedom Institute press secretary, on X: "WOW: Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX), who hasn't voted on a bill in six months, has been living in a nursing home in secret. Records show she has a staff of 25. If any of them knew - and it would be hard not to know - they are complicit."
What's Next
The average age of the incoming Congress, across both chambers and parties, will drop a full decade from what it was in 2021. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is 54, is a notably younger face than his predecessor, Pelosi, who was 80 when the 117th Congress began.
President-elect Trump, meanwhile, will enter the White House at the age of 78 — taking the levers of power from President Biden, who just turned 82, the age Trump will be at the end of his second term.
English (US) ·