Only days into the race, one candidate for the Texas House has already sullied his reputation by hiring a political consultant linked to an incumbent who announced he would not seek re-election after an investigative news site brought forward evidence of a 17-year extramarital affair and other disturbing allegations.
Moderate Republican Fred Tate has entered the race to succeed outgoing State Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, a 7-term incumbent whose affair and other sordid activities were exposed last month by Current Revolt, by hiring Capriglione’s political consultant to manage his campaign.
According to reports, Tate has hired Drew Lawson, a veteran political strategist who serves as the lead consultant for Texans for Lawsuit Reform, to run his campaign. Lawson has worked in Texas politics for more than 15 years, both as a consultant and a lobbyist.
The move ties Tate directly to Capriglione, who announced he would not seek reelection after he admitted to having a 17-year-long affair with an exotic dancer who has also accused him of having lewd fantasies and paying for multiple abortions. (Capriglione has denied these further allegations)
In an interview with Current Revolt, Alex Grace said she had met Capriglione in 2004 when she was just 18 years old. She claims she met Capriglione while working, where they exchanged contact information and began talking about personal issues in their lives. Grace states that the two began their intimate relationship at his office in Southlake. The two would then begin to meet at hotels once a month, which was later moved to every six months.
Grace further alleges that Capriglione would give her money during their meetups, and tells the story of one time they were unable to meet, he left an envelope of cash under a dumpster behind a Chuck E Cheese, and claims that while Capriglione claims to be an anti-abortion man, he has actually paid for several abortions for his own political gain. Capriglione has denied the accusation.
Far from being a stranger to politics, Tate has previously served as the State Chairman of Young Conservatives of Texas, a precinct chair, election judge, and Treasurer of the Republican Party of Texas.
In Tate’s campaign announcement, he states he is running to fight for Texas taxpayers and “will never back down to the radical left’s assault on our family values and the pocketbooks of hardworking Texans.” He also claims he will fight to uphold constitutional freedoms, deliver permanent property tax relief, and protect innocent life.
Tate will be going head-to-head with the City of Keller Mayor Armin Mizani, who has already been endorsed by Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare, Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause, Tarrant County Sheriff Bill Waybourn, and many other Conservative leaders in Tarrant County and across the state.
The Republican primary election is set for March 3, 2026.