Texas Representative Tony Gonzales Suspends Campaign Following Affair Scandal and GOP Pressure

2026-03-06 politics

San Antonio, Friday, 6 March 2026.
U.S. Representative Tony Gonzales has suspended his re-election bid for Texas’ 23rd District following intense pressure from House Republican leadership. The withdrawal comes immediately after Gonzales admitted to an affair with a former staffer who tragically died by suicide, a revelation that prompted an ethics investigation and now leaves the GOP nomination to challenger Brandon Herrera.

Leadership Pressure and Withdrawal

On Thursday, March 5, 2026, Gonzales announced he would not seek re-election, stating the decision came after “deep reflection” and consultation with his family [1][2]. This announcement followed a rare public joint statement from top House Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, urging Gonzales to end his campaign to address the “very serious allegations” regarding his conduct [1][2]. The political pressure escalated rapidly after Gonzales finished second in the March 3 primary, forcing him into a runoff election he has now abandoned [2][7].

A Tragic Turn of Events

The controversy centers on Gonzales’ admission on Wednesday, March 4, that he engaged in an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a former staff member [1][2]. This confirmation marked a reversal from his previous stance, where he had characterized the allegations as blackmail [1]. The situation is particularly sensitive as Santos-Aviles died by suicide in September 2025 in Uvalde, Texas [1][7]. While Gonzales asserted in an interview that he had “absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing” and that she was “thriving” at work, the revelation has triggered significant scrutiny regarding his office’s conduct [1].

Ethics Investigation Launched

Coinciding with his admission, the House Ethics Committee announced on March 4 that it was launching an investigation to determine if Gonzales engaged in sexual misconduct toward an employee or discriminated by dispensing special privileges [2]. The gravity of the situation prompted immediate backlash from within the Texas delegation; beyond the House leadership, Representatives Chip Roy and Monica De La Cruz publicly called for Gonzales to withdraw [2]. De La Cruz further requested his resignation as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference [2].

The Rise of Brandon Herrera

Gonzales’ exit effectively hands the Republican nomination for Texas’ 23rd District to Brandon Herrera, a YouTube personality and gun-rights activist known as “The AK Guy” [2][6]. In the primary election held on March 3, Herrera secured 43.3% of the vote compared to Gonzales’ 41.7%, a narrow margin of 1.6 percentage points [7]. This was the second contest between the two; Gonzales previously defeated Herrera in a 2024 runoff by a slim margin of fewer than 400 votes [2][6].

Sources

Texas politics congressional ethics