Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) announced he will not seek re-election, following his admission of an extramarital affair with a staffer who later died by self-immolation. He faced an ethics investigation and calls for resignation.
Embattled Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) has withdrawn from his re-election bid, stating he will not seek another term after 'deep reflection' with his family. This announcement came one day after Gonzales publicly admitted to an extramarital affair with staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who tragically died by setting herself on fire in September 2025. Gonzales, a married father of six, had been under immense pressure to resign, facing criticism even from within his own party, after text messages surfaced showing him pressing Santos-Aviles for 'sexy' images. He accepted 'full responsibility' for a 'lapse in judgment.' Gonzales had failed to secure a majority in the Texas’s 23rd District GOP primary and was set to face Brandon Herrera in a runoff election, where Herrera had already garnered more votes. The House Ethics Committee is also investigating Gonzales over claims of 'sexual misconduct' and 'dispensing special favors or privileges' related to the affair. Santos-Aviles's widower, Adrian Aviles, has accused Gonzales of 'abusing his power.'
