Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales Ends Reelection Bid After Affair Scandal

Today at 10:32 am

7573 posts

Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales Ends Reelection Bid After Affair Scandal/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas announced he will not seek reelection after admitting to an affair with a former congressional aide. The revelation triggered a House Ethics Committee investigation and pressure from GOP leadership to step aside from the race. Gonzales says he will complete his current term despite the controversy surrounding the case.

FILE – Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-Texas, is seen before the flag-draped casket bearing the remains of Hershel W. “Woody” Williams lies in honor in the U.S. Capitol, July 14, 2022, in Washington. Gonzales is facing a rare potential censure back home over votes that included supporting new gun safety laws after the Uvalde school shooting that was in his district. A censure Saturday, March 4, 2023, by the Republican Party of Texas would underline how the two-term congressman’s willingness to break with conservatives on key issues. (Tom Williams/Pool photo via AP, File)

Tony Gonzales Affair Ethics Investigation Quick Looks

Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales announced he will not run for reelection.
The decision follows his admission of an affair with a former staff member.
The aide, Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, later died by suicide in 2025.
The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into the relationship.
GOP leadership urged Gonzales to withdraw from his campaign.
Gonzales says he will finish his current congressional term.
House rules prohibit lawmakers from having sexual relationships with employees they supervise.

Deep Look: Texas Rep. Tony Gonzales Ends Reelection Bid After Affair Scandal

Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas has ended his reelection campaign after acknowledging an affair with a former congressional staff member, a revelation that sparked political backlash and prompted a House Ethics Committee investigation.

Gonzales announced late Thursday that he would not seek another term in Congress, saying the decision came after reflection and discussions with his family.

“After deep reflection and with the support of my loving family, I have decided not to seek re-election,” Gonzales wrote in a statement posted on social media platform X.

Despite withdrawing from the 2026 race, the three-term congressman said he intends to complete his current term in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The controversy erupted after Gonzales admitted he had a relationship with Regina Ann Santos-Aviles, a former congressional aide who later died in 2025. The Bexar County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled her death a suicide after she set herself on fire in the backyard of her home in Uvalde, Texas.

The case stunned colleagues on Capitol Hill and quickly triggered calls for action from both political parties.

Earlier Thursday, Republican leaders publicly urged Gonzales to withdraw from his reelection bid. House Speaker Mike Johnson, along with House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Majority Whip Tom Emmer, and GOP Conference Chair Lisa McClain, issued a joint statement encouraging the congressman to address the allegations directly with his constituents and colleagues.

In that statement, GOP leaders made clear they believed Gonzales should step away from the campaign while the situation was being reviewed.

The pressure from party leadership followed Gonzales’ admission during an appearance on the “Joe Pags Show,” where he acknowledged the relationship.

“I made a mistake and I had a lapse in judgment, and there was a lack of faith,” Gonzales said during the interview. “I take full responsibility for those actions.”

The fallout from the scandal quickly escalated inside Congress. Several Republican lawmakers called for disciplinary measures, and Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida introduced two resolutions targeting Gonzales.

One proposal seeks to remove him from his assignments on the House Appropriations Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee. The second resolution calls for formally censuring him, a public reprimand by the House.

House Democratic leaders also weighed in on the situation. Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York said he would support expelling Gonzales from the House if the facts warrant such action.

Expulsion is one of the most severe punishments Congress can impose on a member and requires a two-thirds vote in the chamber.

However, Republican leadership has not called for Gonzales to resign outright. The GOP currently holds a narrow majority in the House, giving party leaders limited flexibility when it comes to removing members from office.

Instead, the focus has shifted toward the ongoing House Ethics Committee investigation.

The panel is responsible for determining whether Gonzales violated congressional rules. Under House ethics guidelines, lawmakers are prohibited from engaging in sexual relationships with employees who work under their supervision.

The inquiry is expected to review the timeline and circumstances of the relationship between Gonzales and the former aide.

During his interview, Gonzales said he had not communicated with Santos-Aviles after June 2024, more than a year before her death in September 2025.

He also stated that he had no involvement in the circumstances surrounding her passing.

“I had absolutely nothing to do with her tragic passing, and in fact, I was shocked just as much as everyone else,” Gonzales said.

Gonzales also spoke about his personal life during the interview, saying he had reconciled with his wife, Angel, and sought forgiveness for his actions.

The congressman, who is a father of six children, said he had asked God for forgiveness and was committed to addressing the situation responsibly.

Gonzales first entered Congress in 2020 after retiring from a 20-year career in the U.S. Navy. During his military service, he deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and later positioned himself as a national security-focused lawmaker.

He represents a large district along the Texas-Mexico border and has been involved in debates over immigration policy, border security, and federal spending.

Before the controversy, Gonzales had already been facing a competitive reelection campaign. He was forced into a May runoff election against Brandon Herrera, a gun manufacturer and online gun-rights personality who narrowly lost to him in the 2024 Republican primary.

With Gonzales now stepping aside from the race, the political landscape in the district could shift significantly as Republicans prepare for the upcoming election cycle.

Meanwhile, GOP leaders have urged the House Ethics Committee to move quickly in its review of the case.

The outcome of the investigation could determine whether Gonzales faces formal disciplinary action before the end of his term.