Texas GOP Rep. Tony Gonzales Ends Reelection Bid After Admitting Affair with Aide Who Died by Suicide
AUSTIN, Texas — Republican U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas abruptly dropped out of his reelection race on Thursday, just one day after admitting to an extramarital affair with a former staffer who died by suicide, following intense pressure from House GOP leadership and the launch of a House Ethics Committee investigation.[2][1]
Gonzales, a three-term congressman representing Texas’ 23rd Congressional District—a vast, Republican-leaning area stretching from El Paso County to San Antonio along the U.S.-Mexico border—had been locked in a heated GOP primary runoff against hard-right gun activist and YouTuber Brandon Herrera, set for May.[2][1]
From Denial to Admission Amid Primary Turmoil
The scandal erupted during early voting for the March 3 primary, when allegations surfaced that Gonzales had an affair with Regina Santos-Aviles, a staffer in his office who died on September 14, 2025, after dousing herself in gasoline and setting herself on fire at her home in Uvalde, Texas.[1][2][4]
According to a police report, Santos-Aviles was conscious when officers arrived and told them, “my god, I don’t wanna die.”[2] Gonzales initially declined to address the claims directly, accusing his primary challenger Herrera of politicizing the issue and Santos-Aviles’ widower, Adrian Aviles, of attempted blackmail.[1]
The day after the primary, Gonzales broke his silence in an interview with a conservative radio host, confessing to the affair. “I’ve asked God to forgive me, which he has,” he said, describing it as a “mistake” and “lapse in judgment.” He insisted the aide was never reprimanded or rewarded beyond standard staff practices and framed the controversy as driven by “power and money.”[1][2]
Preliminary primary results showed Gonzales leading with 45% to Herrera’s 40% during early voting. But on election day, as details of the affair spread, Herrera surged to 49% against Gonzales’ 36%—an 18-point swing signaling a potential defeat for the incumbent.[1]
House Ethics Probe and GOP Leadership Pressure
The confession came hours before the House Ethics Committee announced an investigation into Gonzales over the allegations, citing potential violations of the House Code of Conduct regarding sexual relationships with staff.[3]
House Speaker Mike Johnson and GOP leadership swiftly responded, urging Gonzales to withdraw from the race. “We have encouraged him to address these very serious allegations directly with his constituents and his colleagues. In the meantime, Leadership has asked Congressman Gonzales to withdraw from his race for re-election,” they stated.[2][4]
Despite endorsements from President Donald Trump and Speaker Johnson, Gonzales had resisted calls to resign his seat, arguing the stakes were too high amid a narrow GOP House majority. “Those that are asking for me not to do my job are the ones that want to see the Republicans fail here in Congress,” he told the radio host. “We can’t let anything slow us down from executing President Trump’s agenda.”[1]
New Evidence Surfaces: Intimate Selfie Revealed
Adding fuel to the fire, a selfie of Gonzales with his arm around Santos-Aviles emerged Thursday, shared by attorney Bobby Barrera, who represents the aide’s widower. The image, downloaded to her phone on September 8, 2025—just days before her death—was obtained from her device.[4]
“This is part of the truth that Tony keeps asking for,” Barrera said. “There’s plenty more where this came from.” The photo’s release coincided with Gonzales’ announcement, intensifying scrutiny.[4]
Political Fallout and Path Forward
In his withdrawal statement on X (formerly Twitter), Gonzales did not mention the scandal explicitly. “After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek reelection while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district,” he wrote.[2]
Herrera, who topped the primary but fell short of 50%, now advances unopposed in the GOP runoff and will face Democrat Katy Padilla Stout in November. The 23rd District heavily favors Republicans, making Herrera the frontrunner.[2]
Gonzales’ exit caps a dramatic fall for the San Antonio Republican, who narrowly survived a primary challenge from Herrera in 2024 by just a few hundred votes. Colleagues had left his fate to district voters, but the ethics probe and leadership intervention proved decisive.[1]
Broader Implications for GOP in Texas
The episode underscores tensions within the Texas GOP, pitting establishment figures like Gonzales—known for bipartisan votes on issues like gun safety and Ukraine aid—against far-right insurgents like Herrera, a YouTube personality with a massive online following.[1]
As Gonzales serves out his term through January 2027, the Ethics Committee investigation looms, potentially leading to further repercussions. Meanwhile, the district’s border focus keeps immigration and national security at the forefront, agendas Gonzales vowed to champion until the end.[1][3]
This story is developing, with more details expected as the House Ethics probe unfolds.