WASHINGTON — Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Texas Republican, announced Thursday that he is ending his bid for re-election after acknowledging a past affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide. Gonzales said he will serve out the remainder of his current term.
Gonzales had come under intensifying pressure from GOP leaders and other lawmakers to leave the race after making the admission public. He had been headed for a May runoff against Brandon Herrera, a gun maker and YouTube influencer who narrowly lost to him in the 2024 primary; Gonzales’ withdrawal effectively clears that potential matchup.
House Speaker Mike Johnson and top Republican leaders, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Whip Tom Emmer and Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, urged Gonzales to address the allegations and asked him to withdraw. Johnson faced heavy pressure within his own conference to take action.
Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna introduced two resolutions targeting Gonzales — one to remove him from his assignments on the House Appropriations and Homeland Security committees and another to censure him. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries said he would back efforts to expel Gonzales, a move that would require a two-thirds vote of the full House. GOP leaders, mindful of their slim majority, did not call for Gonzales to resign his seat.
Gonzales acknowledged the relationship during an appearance on the Joe Pags Show. The former staff member, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, 35, died after setting herself on fire at her home in Uvalde, Texas; the Bexar County Medical Examiner later ruled her death a suicide. Gonzales said he had not spoken with Santos-Aviles since June 2024, denied any role in her death and described her passing as “tragic.” He said he was as shocked as everyone else.
“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,” Gonzales said. He added that he has reconciled with his wife, Angel, has sought forgiveness from God and welcomes an investigation by the House Ethics Committee. Republican leaders urged the committee to move quickly.
Gonzales, a father of six, is serving his third term in Congress. He first won the seat in 2020 after a 20-year Navy career that included deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Under House ethics rules, members are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with employees under their supervision.