November 11, 2014 8:42 AM

Tarrant Rep. shocks Tea Party by telling them there is no race for Speaker

Tea Party anger: "You ran against Joe Straus. I remember it specifically."

Some Tea Party supporters in Tarrant County got a wakeup call overnight as one of the lawmakers they have supported over establishment Republican figures told them late Monday that there is no race for Speaker of the Texas House.

In a town hall style meeting, Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, R-Southlake, answered questions about his newfound support for Speaker Joe Straus in a matter-of-fact way. "The reality is there is no race for Scott Turner versus Joe Straus," Capriglione said, referring of course to the lawmaker from Frisco who has announced his challenge to Speaker Straus.

That was met with surprise, to say the least.

In a video of the event posted on social media overnight, one woman in the crowd is heard saying "woah" when Capriglione said what he had to say. Others were more dramatic.

By Scott Braddock