Texas Republican Congressman Drops Reelection Bid After Affair Scandal

Political Downfall After Months of Scandal

Rep. Tony Gonzales announced Thursday night that he was dropping his bid for reelection ahead of an Ethics Committee investigation into his affair with a former staffer . The announcement came hours after Speaker Mike Johnson and his House GOP leadership team called on Gonzales to drop out of his race after the Texas Republican admitted to having an affair with a former staffer .

Gonzales appeared in a podcast interview Wednesday to admit the affair with the former aide, Regina Santos-Aviles, saying: "I made a mistake, and I had a lapse in judgment. And there was a lack of faith, and I take full responsibility for those actions" . The staffer, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, died in September 2025. The Bexar County Medical Examiner ruled her death a suicide by self-immolation .

The reported text messages from 2024 show Gonzales pushing conversations with Santos-Aviles in a sexual direction, despite her attempts to deter him. The San Antonio Express-News first reported the content of the text messages, which appear to indicate an affair .

Leadership Pressure Forces Hand

Majority Whip Tom Emmer told CNN he'd warned Gonzales in a phone call that he would almost certainly face an expulsion vote if he refused to bow out . Ana Paulina Luna, a member of the House Oversight Committee, told reporters, "there's a lot there" ahead of filing motions to censure and strip Gonzales of his committee assignments — a rare weapon for fellow party members to wield against one another .

Tony Gonzales's decision to end his reelection bid has quelled an effort to rebuke him for having an affair with a staffer — sparing House Republicans a messy disciplinary fight as they struggle to manage their razor-thin majority . The GOP is holding onto a razor thin lead in the U.S. House — a majority that could be imperiled in November's midterm elections .

The House Ethics Committee officially opened an investigation into Gonzales on Wednesday to examine allegations that he violated the House's code of conduct, which prohibits members from having sexual relationships with staff. It opened the investigation the day after Gonzales's primary in Texas. The committee did not open an investigation earlier due to the panel's rules about taking actions against members within 60 days before an election .

District Implications and New Dynamics

Gonzales' departure turns the 23rd District, which stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, into an open-seat battleground overnight without the advantage of a Republican incumbency . He was facing Brandon Herrera in the primary runoff. Gonzales received 41.7% of the primary vote and Herrera received 43.3% .

The decision means that Gonzales's challenger, Brandon Herrera, a YouTuber and firearms manufacturer endorsed by the political arm of the House Freedom Caucus, will be the Republican nominee for Texas's 23rd Congressional district . With Gonzales stepping aside, Herrera will now advance to the general election against Democratic nominee Katy Padilla Stout .

Texas' 23rd Congressional District was considered a swing seat for years, frequently changing hands between the parties, though in recent election cycles it has trended Republican . By the Associated Press' numbers, Democrats outshone Republicans in the district's polls by around 4,000 voters on Tuesday. Katy Padilla Stout, the Democratic nominee for D-23, garnered about 7,000 more votes than Herrera on Tuesday .

What Comes Next

He indicated he would stay in office through the end of his term. "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 in my district," Gonzales said in the late Thursday statement .

Whether or not the results of the Ethics Committee's probe will be published will come down to when it is completed. The committee investigates only sitting lawmakers, so the investigation could come to an abrupt halt if it is still underway when Gonzales' term ends . Gonzales' decision to serve out the rest of his term will be crucial for House Republicans, who have been bleeding members this Congress .

The scandal's resolution removes a significant distraction for House Republicans but creates new electoral uncertainty in a district that could prove pivotal in determining control of the chamber. With both parties now focusing on an open seat race, the November election will test whether recent Republican gains in South Texas can withstand heightened Democratic investment and voter turnout.