Longtime Republican Rep. Giovanni Capriglione announced Wednesday he is not seeking reelection to the Texas House, ending a 13-year tenure that saw him grow to be one of Tarrant County’s most influential voices in the Legislature.
Capriglione, who was first elected in 2012, represents the northeast corner of the county, including Keller, Grapevine, Euless and Colleyville.
While many constituents and colleagues praised Capriglione for his openness to bipartisan collaboration and intelligence, some Republican groups celebrated his House retirement as an opportunity to fill the District 98 seat with someone more in tune with their conservative agendas.
His leaving could create ripple effects of leadership changes throughout Tarrant County as established officeholders consider his or others soon-to-be vacated seats.
In his Facebook post announcing his intention not to run, Capriglione pointed to key achievements, including his work to return gold to state custody, support of anti-abortion legislation and advocating for government transparency.
“When I first ran, I had a clear purpose: go down to Austin, work hard, and fight for the principles and values that make Texas strong,” Capriglione wrote. “Over the years, I’ve done exactly that.”
Capriglione’s tenure saw emphasis on technology, as he chaired the state’s Innovation and Technology Caucus and authored and supported legislation involving cybersecurity, cryptocurrencies, artificial intelligence and self-driving cars.
Rep. Salman Bhojani, an Euless Democrat whose district borders Capriglione’s, said he’s looked up to Capriglione as a mentor since his own term started in 2023. Despite party differences, Bhojani said Capriglione’s deep institutional knowledge and ability to foster bipartisan collaboration helped him navigate the state’s complex budget and find footing in writing bills.
“I always will remember him as a great legislator,” Bhojani said. “It’s a big loss not only for the state of Texas but Tarrant County specifically.”
“Willing to listen”
RaDonna Hessel, CEO of Colleyville’s Chamber of Commerce, described the outgoing representative as “willing to listen” and have conversations despite the two of them not always being on the same page.
“You’re never surprised by his vote,” Hessel said.“He pretty much tells you what his thoughts are and why he’s voting the way he’s voting, and then he does it, and that can’t be said for every legislator we’ve had.”
Kelley Shannon, executive director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization advocating for government transparency, called Capriglione “a champion” of open government. She said she’s worked closely with him over the years on open government issues.
Local government accountability was a cornerstone of his initial campaign. Shannon says Capriglione stayed proactive and bipartisan as he pushed for more transparency.
In 2019, he authored the House’s version of a proposal requiring government contracting to be more transparent. Shannon cited that legislation, which in the Senate was authored by a Democrat, as a key example of his commitment to open government.
“He worked in bipartisan fashion and just kept his mind open, listening to lots of diverse viewpoints,” Shannon said. “That’s one of the main things that helps lead to success at the Capitol.”
Bhojani said he often co-authored legislation with Capriglione. In the last legislative session, the two worked closely as chair and co-chair of Texas’ Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.
“When he came in as a state representative, he was more on the further right in the conservative wing, and as he got more into legislation, he became more in the middle and worked really well with Democrats and Republicans and across the aisle,” Bhojani said.
Waning Republican support
Collaborations across the aisle, while appreciated by Democrats and some constituents, caused a rift between Capriglione and the conservative groups that elected him.
True Texas Project, a Conservative activist group formerly known as the NE Tarrant Tea Party, played a key role in running grassroots efforts for the representative in 2012. But within a few years, that support dissolved.
Julie McCarty, founder of the NE Tarrant Tea Party and now CEO of True Texas Project, said in an email her group likely would have pushed the Tarrant County GOP to censure Capriglione this fall, crippling his ability to run as a Republican in 2026.
The True Texas Project was prepared to run a challenger to “beat him at the ballot box,” McCarty wrote, adding that Capriglione alienated his voter base and was in a vulnerable position.
“This sudden retirement was an unexpected gift that will save us immeasurable time and money,” she wrote.
Who will fill the open seat?
Keller Mayor Armin Mizani announced he would run for the open seat shortly after Capriglione’s announcement. Mizani, who garnered a host of Tarrant Republicans’ endorsements for a previously planned Senate bid, is True Texas Project’s current pick for House District 98, McCarty said.
“We are smarter, bigger and stronger now, and we are determined to protect northeast Tarrant County as the red corner of the red county that props up Texas and, therefore, the entire nation,” she said.
Capriglione previously beat Mizani in a 2018 run for the seat, winning 63% of the vote in the primary election.
Hessel said she wants the next legislator to be focused on the community, “open and honest” and “not so far left or so far right,” so that the representative works for the community.
Bhojani, while reluctant to let Capriglione go, said he hopes whoever fills the seat is open to bipartisan collaboration.
“It’s so important to understand that government works best when you have perspectives of both parties,” he said.
Capriglione’s exit adds to a growing list of established North Texas lawmakers leaving their seats.
Now acting Comptroller Kelly Hancock in June vacated his state Senate seat representing most of the top half of the county. Rep. Tony Tinderholt, a Republican representing Arlington, announced in June a bid for a Tarrant County Commissioner seat after six terms in the House.
Capriglione, 52, said in his announcement he’s looking forward to spending more time with family and returning to life at home.
“This isn’t goodbye — not yet,” Capriglione wrote. “I will finish out this term with the same energy and dedication that I’ve always brought to the job.”
Drew Shaw is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601.
At the Fort Worth Report, news decisions are made independently of our board members and financial supporters. Read more about our editorial independence policy here.
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