In a surprise reversal, Texas House District 98 Rep. Giovanni Capriglione will not pursue re-election in 2026.
In a Facebook post Tuesday afternoon, the technology champion announced the end of his tenure in the Texas House after 14 years. Capriglione will serve out the remainder of his seventh term, which ends in January.
Capriglione, who had secured powerful endorsements from President Donald Trump and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, previously announced he would be running for re-election in June.
“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’s statement reads. “And while I’ve given this work everything I have, I also feel in my heart that I’ve accomplished what I set out to do. It’s time for a new chapter.”
During his tenure, Capriglione established himself as a leader for tech innovation and a vocal advocate for the advancement of artificial intelligence in the state. In the 89th Legislative Session alone, Capriglione authored or co-authored five tech-related bills that were signed into law by the governor, including a bill establishing the Texas Cyber Command and the AI Governance Act.
The Southlake Republican has not indicated his next steps as of this writing.
State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione Cancels Re-election Bid
What to Know:
- State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, the most prominent Texas legislator on tech issues in recent sessions, announced the end of his tenure in the Texas House after 14 years.
- In the 89th Legislative Session alone, Capriglione authored or co-authored five tech-related bills that were signed into law by the governor.
- The Southlake Republican has not yet indicated his next steps.
