Latest news with #ArminMizani
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, first Texas DOGE chair, will not seek reelection
State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, the Southlake Republican who championed tech-oriented bills, announced his retirement from the Texas House on Tuesday, the latest in a slew of legislative shakeups ahead of the 2026 elections. Capriglione, who said in June he would seek reelection for the District 98 seat, reversed that decision in a statement posted on social media and his campaign website. He said he would serve out the remainder of his seventh term but did not indicate what he will pursue after office. '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 said. '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.' Capriglione is the chair of both the Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee that was established earlier in the year. Capriglione's focus on technology through his time in the Legislature was highlighted by his spot as chair of the state's Innovation and Technology Caucus; authoring Texas' Data Privacy and Security Act in 2023; and helping the establishment of a Texas Cyber Command, one of Gov. Greg Abbott's 2025 emergency priorities, through the DOGE Committee as House Bill 150's author. Keller Mayor Armin Mizani announced on Wednesday that he would be running to succeed Capriglione and alongside a list of endorsements, including some of the lower chamber's far-right representatives. Mizani's move comes a little over two weeks after he said he would run for state Senate District 9, which was recently vacated by Kelly Hancock, who is now the acting Texas comptroller. Mizani's bid for the seat is not his first time running for the seat: Capriglione previously beat Mizani with 63% of the vote in a 2018 primary. Capriglione's exit is the latest in a series of moves from state lawmakers shifting seats, with many seeking other offices. In addition to Hancock's resignation from the state Senate, Rep. Tony Tinderholt, R-Arlington, announced on the last day of the regular session that he would retire and is now running for a Tarrant County Commissioner seat. Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, also said he would not seek reelection, which was quickly followed by Rep. Trent Ashby, R-Lufkin, who stated he would seek the seat. The lineup for The Texas Tribune Festival continues to grow! Be there when all-star leaders, innovators and newsmakers take the stage in downtown Austin, Nov. 13–15. The newest additions include comedian, actor and writer John Mulaney; Dallas mayor Eric Johnson; U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota; New York Media Editor-at-Large Kara Swisher; and U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-El Paso. Get your tickets today! TribFest 2025 is presented by JPMorganChase. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
22-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
City of Keller plans to help ICE arrest, deport undocumented immigrants amid political debates
The mayor of Keller, who recently announced he will seek a state senate seat, said he's ready to start helping ICE officials in arresting and deporting immigrants in the country illegally. It's a controversial move that Armin Mizani is defending. In a recent announcement, Mizani made clear his intention to sign the city up for a program known as 287-g, a federal partnership with ICE. "That would make the city of Keller the first city in the county, the fourth city in the entire state, and the largest city in the entire state to do so," said Mizani Under the 287-g agreement, Keller would participate in what is known as the jail model, where jailers at the Keller jail, which is also used by neighboring cities, would flag, detain, and hand over arrestees to ICE who are in the country illegally. Historically, the Keller community has not been one that has had a problem with illegal immigration. So, is there a problem with illegal immigration now? "I will just say this very simply," said Mizani. "In Keller, we have had nearly 2,000 people arrested and detained in our Keller jail each and every year... every year we have had roughly about 31 people. If you look at the last two years, the total has been 31 people who have actually been in the country illegally and were detained at the Keller jail. To me, that's a staggering number." Mizani said the move is about strengthening public safety. "Keep in mind, in Keller, we have been doing this now for two years," Mizani said. "We never formally opted into the program. So to me, public safety is something that is not negotiable, and at the end of the day, we are going to do what we can to strengthen that." Tarrant County already has the same agreement at its jail, but Mizani said it won't be redundant because not everyone arrested in his city is transferred to the county facility. He said the intention to collaborate with ICE will send a strong message. "If you are going to pass through Keller or Southlake, or Roanoke, or Westlake or Colleyville and you are here illegally and you decide to commit a crime... the message is we will find out who you are and report it to the federal authorities," said Mizani. The plan is still not in effect. The Keller City Council is expected to vote on it on August 5.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
North Texas mayor joins race for Fort Worth-area state Senate District 9
Another Republican has entered the race for Texas Senate District 9. 'It's official,' Keller Mayor Armin Mizani said in his post on X. 'I'm in.' Mizani will be on the ballot along with fellow Republican Leigh Wambsganss and Democrat Taylor Rehmet. Whoever wins in the special election on Nov. 4 will represent much of Northwest Tarrant County including North Richland Hills, Keller and White Settlement. The race will go into a runoff if a candidate doesn't get more than half of the votes. 'Texas is at a critical juncture in its long and proud history,' Mizani said. 'Now, more than ever, Texans deserve leaders with the experience and resolve necessary to offer solutions to the challenges we face.' The mayor's announcement for candidacy comes within two weeks of Wambsganss's, when Texas Rep. Nate Schatzline withdrew. 'My #1 goal was for SD9 to be represented by a true conservative, & with Leigh Wambsganss, that's exactly what you'll get,' Schatzline said in his June 27 post on X. 'She has my full support.' A day after Wambsganss entered the race, Mizani told his social media following that he was giving prayerful consideration to running. 'Senate District 9 is the Republican lifeblood of Tarrant County—our voters deserve a strong and principled conservative that is only beholden to the interests of the people of SD9 and not the whims and wills of the Austin political machine,' Mizani said in the June 28 post. As Keller's mayor, Mizani said he has been just that. 'Simply put, this campaign will be motivated by my family and yours, guided by our shared conservative values, and focused on offering solutions to the challenges we face as Texans,' Mizani said. As mayor of Keller, Mizani has been an outspoken supporter of Gov. Greg Abbott, the county commissioners redistricting and the near-split of Keller ISD. Mizani has less than a year remaining on his three-year term. He was first elected mayor in 2020 after serving as a city council member from 2014-18.
