\u201cWhen 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,\u201d Capriglione wrote. \u201cOver the years, I\u2019ve done exactly that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Capriglione\u2019s tenure saw emphasis on technology, as he chaired the state\u2019s Innovation and Technology Caucus and authored and supported legislation involving cybersecurity, cryptocurrencies<\/a>, artificial intelligence<\/a> and self-driving cars<\/a>.<\/p>\n Rep. Salman Bhojani, an Euless Democrat whose district borders Capriglione\u2019s, said he\u2019s looked up to Capriglione as a mentor since his own term started in 2023. Despite party differences, Bhojani said Capriglione\u2019s deep institutional knowledge and ability to foster bipartisan collaboration helped him navigate the state\u2019s complex budget and find footing in\u00a0 writing bills.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI always will remember him as a great legislator,\u201d Bhojani said. \u201cIt\u2019s a big loss not only for the state of Texas but Tarrant County specifically.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWilling to listen\u201d<\/p>\n RaDonna Hessel, CEO of Colleyville\u2019s Chamber of Commerce, described the outgoing representative as \u201cwilling to listen\u201d and have conversations despite the two of them not always being on the same page.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re never surprised by his vote,\u201d Hessel said.\u201cHe pretty much tells you what his thoughts are and why he\u2019s voting the way he\u2019s voting, and then he does it, and that can\u2019t be said for every legislator we\u2019ve had.\u201d<\/p>\n Kelley Shannon, executive director Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas<\/a>, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization advocating for government transparency, called Capriglione \u201ca champion\u201d of open government. She said she\u2019s worked closely with him over the years on open government issues.\u00a0<\/p>\n Local government accountability was a cornerstone of his initial campaign<\/a>. Shannon says Capriglione stayed proactive and bipartisan as he pushed for more transparency.<\/p>\n In 2019, he authored the House\u2019s version of a proposal requiring government contracting<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHe worked in bipartisan fashion and just kept his mind open, listening to lots of diverse viewpoints,\u201d Shannon said. \u201cThat\u2019s one of the main things that helps lead to success at the Capitol.\u201d<\/p>\n Bhojani said he often co-authored legislation with Capriglione. In the last legislative session, the two worked closely<\/a> as chair and co-chair of Texas\u2019 Committee on Delivery of Government Efficiency<\/a>, or DOGE.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen 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,\u201d Bhojani said.<\/p>\n Waning Republican support<\/p>\n Collaborations across the aisle, while appreciated by Democrats and some constituents, caused a rift between Capriglione and the conservative groups that elected him.<\/p>\n True Texas Project<\/a>, a Conservative activist group<\/a> formerly known as the NE Tarrant Tea Party, played a key role in running grassroots efforts for the representative<\/a> in 2012. But within a few years, that support dissolved<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The True Texas Project was prepared to run a challenger to \u201cbeat him at the ballot box,\u201d McCarty wrote, adding that Capriglione alienated his voter base and was in a vulnerable position.<\/p>\n \u201cThis sudden retirement was an unexpected gift that will save us immeasurable time and money,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n Who will fill the open seat?<\/p>\n Keller Mayor Armin Mizani announced he would run for the open seat<\/a> shortly after Capriglione\u2019s announcement. Mizani, who garnered a host of Tarrant Republicans\u2019 endorsements for a previously planned Senate bid, is True Texas Project\u2019s current pick for House District 98, McCarty said.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Capriglione previously beat Mizani in a 2018 run for the seat, winning 63% of the vote in the primary election.<\/p>\n Hessel said she wants the next legislator to be focused on the community, \u201copen and honest\u201d and \u201cnot so far left or so far right,\u201d so that the representative works for the community.<\/p>\n Bhojani, while reluctant to let Capriglione go, said he hopes whoever fills the seat is open to bipartisan collaboration.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s so important to understand that government works best when you have perspectives of both parties,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Capriglione\u2019s exit adds to a growing list of established North Texas lawmakers leaving their seats.<\/p>\n 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> a bid for a Tarrant County Commissioner seat after six terms in the House.\u00a0<\/p>\n Capriglione, 52, said in his announcement he\u2019s looking forward to spending more time with family and returning to life at home.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t goodbye \u2014 not yet,\u201d Capriglione wrote. \u201cI will finish out this term with the same energy and dedication that I\u2019ve always brought to the job.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Drew Shaw is a government accountability reporter for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at drew.shaw@fortworthreport.org or @shawlings601<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n\tRelated\n<\/p>\n Fort Worth Report is certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative<\/a> for adhering to standards for ethical journalism.<\/p>\n Republish This Story<\/p>\n
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