US EditionGOP Rep. Tony Gonzales drops re-election bid amid ethics probe into his affair with a staffer
Rep. Tony Gonzales faced pressure from GOP leaders and a House Ethics Committee probe after admitting an affair with a late staffer; he will serve out his term but not seek reelection.
- Thursday, Gonzales announced on X he would not seek re-election, stating, 'After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out this Congress,' Gonzales said.
- The House Ethics Committee opened an investigation into whether Gonzales "engaged in sexual misconduct" earlier this week, while top House Republican leaders urged him to withdraw amid public release of explicit texts from May 2024 as early voting unfolded.
- Regina Ann Santos-Aviles died in September 2025 in Uvalde, Texas, and the medical examiner ruled her death a suicide; Gonzales said he had "absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing" and took responsibility for his mistake.
- Gonzales's departure clears the path for Brandon Herrera, while the 218-214 Republican congressional majority makes Gonzales's decision to remain crucial, and House GOP leadership including Speaker Mike Johnson urged the Ethics Committee to act expeditiously.
- The Ethics Committee's jurisdiction is limited to sitting lawmakers, and the Office of Congressional Conduct completed its inquiry within 60 days of Gonzales's primary, affecting result publication timing.
147 Articles
147 Articles
House Reinforces Anti-Harassment Efforts as Scandal Sinks GOP Rep
House lawmakers push anti-sexual harassment efforts as a representative announced Thursday that he will finish out his term but “not seek re-election” after he faced widespread scrutiny for an affair with his staffer. That affair ultimately resulted in her suicide. “I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district,” Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, said on X. “…
Tony Gonzales Announces Decision On Re-Election Bid Amid Affair Scandal * 100PercentFedUp.com * by Danielle
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) has dropped his re-election bid amid pressure from House GOP leadership to exit the race. “After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election while serving out the rest of this Congress with the same commitment I’ve always had to my district,” Gonzales said. “Through the rest of my term, I will continue fighting for my constituents, for whom I am eternally grateful,” h…
Republican Congressman Announces He Will NOT Seek Re-Election After Admitting To Affair With Staffer
There will no longer be a run-off election for Texas’s 23rd Congressional District. As the WLT Report previously covered, on Thursday, Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX) admitted he had an affair with a former staffer who later committed suicide after setting herself on fire. Rep. Gonzales made the confession after failing to secure the votes needed to win his Republican primary, forcing him into a runoff against his opponent, Brandon Herrera. …
Rep. Tony Gonzales drops out of Texas race, clearing way for candidate he called a ‘known neo-Nazi’
A gun-rights activist whose YouTube output includes videos admiring Nazi firearms will be the de facto Republican nominee for a closely watched West Texas congressional district after his primary opponent, an incumbent dogged by scandal, dropped his reelection bid Thursday. Brandon Herrera, known on YouTube as “The AK Guy,” pulled more votes in this week’s primary than Rep. Tony Gonzales. The two were slated for a runoff election in May before G…
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